ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost of the road traffic accident badger survey has been from its inception to date.

Ben Bradshaw: The total cost of the road traffic accident badger survey to date is £218,000.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research is being undertaken on badger to cattle transmission of M. bovis via cattle feed troughs.

Ben Bradshaw: Research by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) has shown that in the Woodchester Park study area some badgers regularly obtained feed from cattle troughs. In addition, badgers have been recorded defecating and urinating in troughs. Ongoing research at CSL aims to identify the seasonal and frequency of trough-use by badgers on cattle farms throughout the south-west of England. The results of this research will be reported to Defra in December 2005.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the responses are of badger groups confronted with shortages of primary foods arising from population pressure in terms of (a) selectivity of diet and (b) foraging distance.

Ben Bradshaw: The primary food of the badger in Britain is the earthworm. These do not represent a limiting resource across much of Britain, especially the south-west, due to their super-abundance. However, they may not be available to badgers under some conditions such as during periods of dry weather. Therefore, badgers are unlikely to be confronted with food shortages as a result of increasing population size alone. When earthworms are not available badgers are forced to select other food sources and will forage greater distances to obtain these. Being generalist opportunists, badgers will consume a wide variety of foods. These include many invertebrates, plant roots, fruits, cereals, animal carcases and stored livestock feed. Food shortages may encourage badgers to forage at greater distances from their setts, although there is no quantitative data on this.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether badger carcases on the roadside reported by members of the public are included in the road traffic accident badger survey.

Ben Bradshaw: The Road Traffic Accident (RTA) survey only operates in the seven English counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hereford, Gloucestershire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. Defra staff endeavour to collect any badgers reported by members of the public from roadsides within those counties. Not all badgers collected are suitable for post mortem examination, and only those that are suitable can provide data for the survey.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed in the collection of badgers killed in road traffic accidents; and what the average period is between a report of a carcase being received and a collection being made.

Ben Bradshaw: The road traffic accident survey (RTA) of badgers killed by motor vehicles in seven English counties was operated by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) from June 2002 to end of February 2004. CSL had two full-time staff involved in the collection of RTA badgers (in peak periods another member of staff assisted), and typically a carcase would be collected within 24 hours of being reported.
	Defra's Wildlife Unit (WLU) is now operating the RTA survey, and intends to involve up to four staff daily, as necessary, in the task of collecting carcases. All other travelling WLU staff, however, may also collect such carcases, as an ancillary action to their primary work tasks. The WLU will aim to collect such carcases within one working day of their notification.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of bovine TB control programmes undertaken without the active co-operation of farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: No such assessment has been made, but the co-operation of farmers is vital for a TB control programme in cattle to be effective.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of other causes to which the reduction in bovine TB could be attributed in the Thornbury experiment, other than the clearance of badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: The fundamental difference between the Thornbury area and other areas in south west England, where bovine tuberculosis was a problem, was the systematic removal badgers from the Thornbury area. No other species was similarly removed. No other contemporaneous change was identified that could have accounted for the reduction in TB incidence within the area.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the effect of anti-trial activity on the success rate of badger trapping during the Krebs trials.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to assess accurately the effect of anti-trial activity on the success of badger trapping, as there are no control data with which to draw a comparison. However, it is likely that such activity has had a negative impact on the success rate, and has certainly led to some trapping operations being prematurely suspended or extended.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the number of injuries to (a) cattle owners, (b) keepers and (c) stockmen which will be sustained as a result of the enhanced testing programme.

Ben Bradshaw: The Health and Safety Executive do not hold specific data on the number of accidents occurring on farms that can be directly attributed to the current TB testing programme. Therefore it would not be possible to estimate the number of injuries resultant of any changes to the TB testing programme.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the prevalence of TB in cattle is higher on organic holdings than on those where cattle are housed intensively.

Ben Bradshaw: The TB99 epidemiological questionnaire has been designed to assess factors that might predispose herds to a TB breakdown, and their relative importance. The form includes questions on organic herd status. To date, no finalised analyses have been made, but analyses of pre-Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak data and of data collected in 2002 are in progress. The results will be published later this year.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) Scotland and (b) Wales on the control of bovine TB; and what the outcome was of those consultations.

Ben Bradshaw: There are regular discussions at official level on bovine TB issues. A subject of recent discussions has been the consultation exercise "Preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis".

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated on whether poor standards of animal health and welfare in cattle husbandry contribute to the increases in bovine TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: An Independent Husbandry Panel was set up by MAFF on 17 January 2000, in response to a recommendation of the Agriculture Select Committee (in April 1999) for a working party to be established to review the available scientific evidence on husbandry, and the role it might play in controlling bovine TB. Factors considered by the Panel included health and welfare aspects such as physiological state and concurrent diseases. Its report was published by MAFF in 2000.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources devoted to the Krebs reactive trials have been transferred to the Krebs proactive trials.

Ben Bradshaw: Wildlife unit staff and equipment have always been deployed on all elements of the culling trial; no particular element is ring-fenced and resources will therefore not specifically be re-directed to proactive culling following the cessation of the reactive culling work.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what adverse effects have been observed in cattle subject to continuous 60-day TB testing; and whether this has been accompanied by a higher rate of (a) abortion, (b) premature calving and (c) early embryonic loss.

Ben Bradshaw: No adverse effects have been observed in cattle subjected to 60-day (short-interval) tuberculin testing.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what consultations she has had with (a) local authorities and (b) their representative bodies on the resource implications arising from the enforcement of the proposed Tuberculosis (England) Order;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the costs to local authorities of enforcing the proposed Tuberculosis (England) Order 2004 in the first five years of its application.

Ben Bradshaw: Consideration of the costs to local government will be considered fully in the final Regulatory Impact Assessment for the proposed new Tuberculosis (England) Order 2004.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to UK farmers of a levy to fund compensation payments in respect of slaughtered TB reactors.

Ben Bradshaw: We have not made such an estimate but as a general principle our proposal is that farmers would pay into a levy fund to meet half of the projected costs associated with disease control, including compensation. However, no decision has been taken on whether the levy would cover endemic diseases such as TB, or indeed what costs would be covered. These issues will be in the consultation document on the levy proposals that we are working on.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 247–8W, on bovine TB, whether TB reactors that are negative on culture are considered to have been infected with M.bovis bacilli.

Ben Bradshaw: Cattle reacting to the intradermal comparative test are considered to be affected by bovine tuberculosis, regardless of culture results. The main reason for carrying out bacteriological tests in those animals is to identify, for epidemiological purposes, the strain of M. bovis responsible for the infection rather than to validate the skin test results.
	There are several reasons why reactors may be negative on culture:
	A very small proportion (0.5 per cent. or less according to the veterinary literature) of reactors without visible TB lesions can be caused by bacteria closely related to the M. bovis bacillus.
	Cellular immune responses (which give rise to the skin test response) will be evident at earlier stages following infection than the pathological changes caused by the disease (e.g. visible lesions), and probably before bacterial loads are sufficiently large to be found by standard culture methods.
	M. bovis is a fastidious organism to grow in the laboratory, so culture methods are less sensitive than the skin test.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis the Independent Science Group concluded that interference in the Krebs trials had had no discernible impact on the statistical integrity of the trials.

Ben Bradshaw: The main technique used by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) for monitoring whether badger densities in the trial areas are consistent with the treatments, the 20 per cent. surveys of trial areas, showed that badger activity levels changed in line with the treatment given (proactive, reactive or survey-only). Furthermore, the ISG carried out various statistical analyses on the data from the reactive and survey-only areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. These have shown a consistent effect of reactive culling across trial areas.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who was in charge of the conduct of the Thornbury trial; and what his or her current position is.

Ben Bradshaw: Dr. Harry Thompson was in charge of the conduct of the Thornbury Trial. He is now retired.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best estimate is of the number of badgers killed during the Thornbury trial.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to give a number. The method of culling, gassing, meant many badgers died underground and could not be recovered.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle herds in heavily infected areas have demonstrated resistance to TB infection; and what explanation has been adduced for this phenomenon.

Ben Bradshaw: There are many possible reasons why some herds in heavily infected areas remain uninfected. Since 1994, approximately 70 per cent. of herds in current yearly tested parishes have had no confirmed breakdown. The TB99 epidemiological survey is investigating risk factors. The next report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB will include some results from the analysis of TB99 data from before the foot and mouth disease outbreak and, possibly, more recent (2002) data.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the badger population of the Isle of Wight is; what its health status is; and whether TB herd breakdowns have been reported on the island in the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not have an estimate for the current badger population on the Isle of Wight; nor do we have information on its health status.
	The number of new bovine tuberculosis (TB) breakdowns on the Isle of Wight in the last five years is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of new TB breakdowns 
		
		
			 1999 (1)1 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 (2)1 
			 2003 (2)1 
		
	
	(1) TB confirmed.
	(2) TB not confirmed by post-mortem or culture results.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost per Krebs area was of the Krebs trials.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to give a realistic figure for the average cost of a Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) area. This is due to a number of factors such as the differences in treatment ascribed to the RBCT areas, the differences in enrolment time of the RBCT areas, and the number and type of culling operations carried out.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what appeal mechanisms are available to applicants for a Section 10 licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in the event that an application is refused.

Ben Bradshaw: In the first instance appeals should be made to the Wildlife Administration Unit of the National Wildlife Management Team (part of the Rural Development Service) who are responsible for issuing licences under this legislation. Each appeal is assessed to determine the basis on which it has been made and is then handled accordingly.
	If the appeal relates to the policy of the Department in implementing the legislation, it is passed to the Wildlife Integration and Conservation Team within the European Wildlife Division for a response. If the issues cannot be resolved satisfactorily the appeal is passed to the Head of the European Wildlife Division (Defra, Floor 1 Zone 10/D, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB).
	If the appeal involves how the applicant or case were dealt with, it would be passed to the Team Manager of the National Wildlife Management Team to investigate and respond (RDS, Burghill Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 6NJ). If the issue(s) cannot be resolved the case is forwarded to the Department Impartial Complaint Adjudicator (Defra, Area 7E, 9 Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR). The Adjudicator will determine whether the correct procedures have been followed and if the outcome was appropriate.
	This appeal mechanism will be considered as part of the ongoing public consultation into the procedures that the Department adopts in handling applications under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herds have suffered repeat breakdowns since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1 January 1998, 2,413 1 herds have suffered repeat breakdowns.
	1 Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 4–5 March 2004. Subject to change as more data becomes available.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed in tracing cattle from farm movement books after a new breakdown; how many years back such traces go; and what the success rate is in tracing suspect cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of staff involved in each tracing will depend on how many movements there have been associated with a TB breakdown. In most cases, a new TB breakdown is allocated to a case Veterinary Officer, who is responsible for prioritising and initiating tracings from the herd. In addition, there is at least one person in each Animal Health Divisional Office who is recognised as having a specialist interest and ability in dealing with tracing work.
	The start point for tracings is usually the last clear test. How many years back traces go will depend on the testing history of the traced herds.
	It is not possible to give a figure regarding the rate of success in tracing cattle except at disproportionate cost.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to combat bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have a five-point strategy for dealing with bovine TB, based on the recommendations of the Krebs report 1997:
	Protecting human health
	Testing cattle for TB and putting controls in place
	Developing a TB vaccine
	Carrying out research into how bovine TB is spread
	Carrying out a badger culling trial.
	On 9 February, the Government launched a consultation on proposals for short term cattle-based measures to prevent the further geographical spread of bovine TB. The consultation also seeks views on the key principles on which a new long-term strategy for tackling bovine TB will be developed. The consultation period ends on 4 May 2004.

Feline TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirement there is on veterinary investigation centres to examine the carcases of domestic cats for the presence of TB when submitted by private veterinary surgeons.

Ben Bradshaw: Carcases of any domestic cats submitted to VLA Regional Laboratories are examined for TB as part of the standard post-mortem protocols. If TB is suspected by the submitting veterinarian or if characteristic lesions of TB are found in the course of the post-mortem examination at VLA, appropriate samples will be taken for histological and bacteriological tests to confirm the presence of "Mycobacterium bovis". Confirmatory TB tests are carried out free of charge to the submitting veterinarian.

Feline TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make TB in domestic cats a notifiable disease.

Ben Bradshaw: As set out in the consultation document launched by the Department last 9 February, we are proposing an amendment to the Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984, which will make the isolation of "M. bovis" notifiable in any mammal other than humans.

Feline TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether charges are imposed on private veterinary surgeons who submit the carcases of domestic cats to veterinary investigation centres for post mortem examination for the presence of TB.

Ben Bradshaw: Carcases of any domestic cats submitted to VLA Regional Laboratories are examined for TB as part of the standard post-mortem protocols. If TB is suspected by the submitting veterinarian or if characteristic lesions of TB are found in the course of the post mortem examination at VLA, appropriate samples will be taken for histological and bacteriological tests to confirm the presence of "Mycobacterium bovis".
	Confirmatory TB tests are carried out free of charge to the submitting veterinarian.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the scientific justification was for the reduction in the 2004 haddock total allowable catch allocation for the Rockall Haddock fishery.

Ben Bradshaw: The scientific advice was for catches of Rockall haddock in 2004 to be reduced to the lowest possible level. The full advice is available in the autumn 2003 report of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM), which may be found on the website of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) at www.ices.dk.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current condition is of the West of Scotland Nephrops stock.

Ben Bradshaw: The ICES advice from October 2003 was that West of Scotland stocks of Nephrops are exploited at sustainable levels. Advice for the Nephrops stocks alone was that a TAG of 11,300 tonnes was appropriate, and the TAG for 2004 was set at that figure.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether survey findings reliant on data obtained using the Granton trawl are comparable with findings reliant on data obtained using the GOV trawl;
	(2)  what the differences are in the characteristics between the GOV and Granton trawls in terms of their respective ability to catch cod;
	(3)  when the Granton trawl used by UK survey vessels in the North sea was replaced by the GOV trawl;
	(4)  pursuant to her answer of 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1300W, on fisheries, whether the GOV trawl used by North sea survey vessels is optimised for the catching of cod.

Ben Bradshaw: The autumn North sea fisheries survey undertaken by CEFAS changed to the GOV (Grande Ouverture Verticale) trawl from 1992. The survey gear predominantly targets roundfish but also samples a wide range of other commercial fish. Consequently the gear is not designed to target only cod. Nevertheless, the GOV trawl is more efficient at catching cod than the Granton trawl it replaced. Both gears show a very truncated age distribution, with few mature cod. Before the change to the GOV gear the cod stock had seriously declined, and in the early 1990s the advice from ICES was that strong measures were needed to protect the cod, including direct reductions in fishing effort. Results from the two gears, albeit at different times, are comparable.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her estimate is of the proportion of North Sea fish stocks which have gravitated to oil and gas rig exclusion areas and are not accessible to commercial fisherman;
	(2)  what account is taken of the gravitation of commercial fish species to oil and gas pipelines and rigs in the conduct of abundance surveys.

Ben Bradshaw: This is not a well researched area but one North Sea study concluded that an oil platform had attracted cod and saithe, leaving a zone around the platform where fish density was lower. Even so, the total quantity was negligible compared to regional or even local fish stocks. On this limited basis it does not appear that the aggregation of cod and saithe by platforms is likely to have a significant effect on the availability of fish.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent the previous year's landing of any specific fish species influences the setting of total allowable catches.

Ben Bradshaw: Data on landings of commercial fish species are one important source of information for international assessments of such species. These assessments provide the basis for scientific advice on total allowable catches.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what adjustments are made to landing figures of fish species to account for (a) discards and (b) under-reporting in order to estimate the true levels of fishing mortality; and whether those adjustments have been constant in recent years.

Ben Bradshaw: Data on discards are included in only some annual assessments where sampling is such as to provide an adequate estimate of the discards. Scientists at ICES use the best information at their disposal in the stock assessments, and this may include information on under-reporting or misreporting. The magnitude will depend upon the circumstances of any one year.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what corrections are applied to bottom trawl survey catch figures to adjust for the catchability limitations of the gear used.

Ben Bradshaw: The current assessment techniques use catch-rates of commercial and research fleets. Each survey is used independently, and hence no corrections are necessary.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the implications of Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 of 4 November 2003, on the management of the fishing effort relating to certain community fishing areas, are for UK fishermen.

Ben Bradshaw: Council Regulation 1954/2003 introduces a new fishing effort management regime for Western Waters in place of that contained in Council Regulation 685/95. It extends the scope of the regime from vessels over 18 metres overall length to vessels over 15 metres overall length but no longer applies to vessels fishing for deep-water species which are now subject to separate management arrangements. The hailing in and out arrangements contained in the previous regime have been removed except in a newly created biologically sensitive area off the south-west coast of Ireland. The Council will agree new effort ceilings for Member States later this year. The new arrangements do not affect the ability of UK registered vessels over 15 metres to fish in western waters. Fisheries Departments will monitor overall fishing effort against the ceilings set by Council. Where an effort ceiling is in danger of being breached licences will be varied to prohibit fishing in the relevant area. No such licence variations have proved necessary since the previous regime was introduced in 1995.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1148W, on fish stocks, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of scientific assessments of the levels of fish stocks.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 136W.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1148W, on fish stocks, what scientific investigations have been carried out to determine the migration patterns of North Sea cod.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been extensive tagging of cod to determine their migration and movements. These data form the basis for the current assessment and management areas for cod.
	Since 1999, CEFAS has released cod tagged with electronic tags that allow more detailed information to be derived. The work has recently been expanded under a joint Defra/EU funded program (CODYSSEY) that is investigating movements and behaviour of cod over a wide part of the NE Atlantic including the North Sea. The technology is also being used in a current R&D programme which will help to show how cod respond to variations in food supply.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to her answer of 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1300W, on fisheries, what assessment she has made of the reason for the reduced cod recruitment in the North Sea since the 1980s;
	(2)  pursuant to her answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 134W, on fisheries, what investigations she has carried out to determine the effect of environmental change and species interactions because of increased water temperature in the North Sea.

Ben Bradshaw: Two key factors are affecting recruitment of cod. First, the size of the cod stock itself, as fewer adult cod give fewer young. Secondly, the environment, through the planktonic food chain, affects the survival from eggs to "recruits". Sea temperature is often used as an index of such environmental changes. Defra are funding research into the links between the environment and recruitment, as illustrated in the recently publicised article in Nature. However, it is the first we have to manage. ICES advice is that if the environment is also causing reduced recruitments then managers have to be even more cautious.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 135W, on fisheries, on what evidence scientists have based their advice that over the last 20 years the fishing rate on cod has been five times that required to promote optimal use of the cod stock.

Ben Bradshaw: ICES assessments show that recent fishing rates on cod have been about 60 per cent. per annum ("F of 1.0"). This is over three times the rate needed to achieve the maximum sustainable yield per recruit (MSY) (F= 0.3) and five times that needed to achieve the bioeconomic optimum F0.1 (F = 0.2).

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 496W, on fisheries, in what direction in the vertical plane cod seek to escape towed trawl nets; and what the equivalent behaviour is of haddock.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1152W.

Flood Defences

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes have been made to the criteria used by the Environment Agency to determine priorities for investment in flood defences in each of the last five years; and on what basis these changes were made.

Margaret Beckett: For grant-aided capital investment the Environment Agency uses Defra's priority scoring system, which applies to all flood and coastal defence operating authorities. The system was introduced on a pilot basis in 1997 and, following a review and wide ranging consultation, a revised system was announced in 2002 to come into effect in April 2003. The revised system ranks projects on three components in a ratio of 20:12:12 respectively: benefit:cost ratio, the number of people to be protected (as measured by number of residences over cost) and environmental assets protected. In order to be approved for grant aid from Defra proposals must meet a minimum threshold score, which is reviewed annually.
	For investment in other flood management expenditure the Agency issued guidance to Regional Flood Defence Committees (RFDCs) on priorities in 1998. From 1 April 2004 Grant in Aid from Defra will replace levies on local authorities for financing the bulk of RFDC expenditure and this gives the Agency a greater direct role in deciding on priorities and distribution between regions. For 2004–05, allocations reflected the assumptions made in regional business plans for the previous levy-setting round. The Agency is now working with Defra on a more robust prioritisation system for the allocation of Grant in Aid based on new performance measures in relation to flood risk reduction, for application from 2006–07. In the meantime the Agency will be expected to meet the targets published in their 2004 Corporate Plan.

Livestock

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the slaughter-only market on (a) farms and (b) auction marts; and if she will alter her Department's ruling so that livestock may return to farm of origin with the proviso that it triggers a 20 day standstill on that farm.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for market operators to take a commercial decision as to whether they choose to operate as a dedicated slaughter market. These markets can be beneficial to auction markets because of the revenue received from livestock originating from farms that are under a movement standstill.
	Dedicated slaughter markets can also be beneficial to livestock farmers because they are able to take animals there whilst their farm is under a movement standstill.
	The standstill arrangements are based on a scientific Cost Benefit Analysis of the disease risks associated with various standstill lengths. I do not propose to amend the standstill regime, which represents the best available balance between minimising disease risk and the needs of the farming community to trade livestock.

Livestock

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the welfare implications for suckler herds of the proposed pre-movement testing regime, with particular reference to the sufficiency of grazing to support animals retained on farm as a result of movement restrictions.

Ben Bradshaw: None. Any welfare implications of this proposal will be estimated as part of the consultation process, which will involve discussions with veterinary and farming interests.

Livestock

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best estimate is of the number of cattle movements made annually in the United Kingdom to which pre- and post-movement testing will apply.

Ben Bradshaw: The Cattle Tracing System in 2002 recorded approximately 2.8 million cattle movements in GB to which pre and post movement testing could apply dependent upon the option and area selected.

Pig Industry

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will break down by (a) year and (b) scheme how the £66 million allocated to the pig industry restructuring scheme was spent; and if she will list unspent funds.

Alun Michael: The £66 million provisionally allocated to the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme was spent as follows:
	(a) £15.7 million in Financial Year 2001–02 and £10.9 million in each Financial Year 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	(b) £21.8 million for the Ongoers scheme and £15.7 million for the Outgoers scheme.
	Of the remainder, £22 million was used to fund measures related to the classical swine fever (CSF) outbreak in East Anglia, £3.9 million was 'loaned' to the Meat and Livestock Commission to fund the industry's top-up payment to the Government's CSF-related Pig Welfare (Disposal) Scheme, and £2.6 million was re-allocated to a post-FMD recovery scheme.
	Not all claims have been submitted and met as yet but funds have been fully allocated.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Alun Michael: Details on the Department's Private Finance Initiatives are in the Signed Project List on the Treasury Website http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public private partnerships/ppp pfi stats. cfm. The remainder of the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what alternative land uses she has considered for land vacated in severely disadvantaged areas resulting from lower payment made to livestock producers in those areas.

Alun Michael: Recipients of the single farm payment will be required to respect the cross compliance conditions. These will include a requirement to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. Subject to these requirements, it will be for individual farmers to decide how best to organise their businesses.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the impact on wildlife in severely disadvantaged areas of the payment regime in those areas.

Alun Michael: Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 12 February. Defra will monitor future changes in farming practices, markets and the environment.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with farmers' representatives on the single farm payment to livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made her decision on the basis for allocating entitlements to the single farm payment in England in the best interests of the farming industry as well as the wider public interest. Ministers and officials have had frequent meetings with representatives of farming organisations, before and since the announcement on 12 February, including with organisations with members in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas who will cease farming over the next 10 years;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the effects on livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas of competition with livestock farmers in receipt of different levels of payments under the single farm payment scheme;
	(3)  what her assessment is of the effect on farmers' incomes in severely disadvantaged areas of differentials in single farm payments between producers in these areas and other livestock producers in the rest of England.

Alun Michael: Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 12 February 2004.

Single Farm Payments

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to her oral answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, what the nature of Mr. Dring's memorandum was; for what purpose it was written; for what purpose it was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and whether the memorandum was requested by senior officials in MAFF;
	(2)  pursuant to her oral answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, when the memorandum from Mr. Dring was (a) written and (b) received by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; what discussions were held between Mr. Dring and his senior managers in MAFF following receipt of the memorandum; and what assessment was made of the memorandum by legal officials in MAFF;
	(3)  pursuant to her oral answer of 11March 2004, Official Report, column 1640, on single farm payments, who in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made the decision not to submit Mr. Dring's memorandum to Dr Iain Anderson's inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: Mr. Dring wrote a personal statement during the summer of 2001 on his own initiative to document events in the light of the prospect of a court case against Robert Waugh and because he believed the information might be of help to any inquiry after the outbreak. It was not a formal report. He sought advice from his senior manager on 29 October 2001 who discussed the handling of the statement with the Department's Inquiry Liaison Unit. The statement was passed to them on 13 December 2001. The Inquiry Liaison Unit was responsible for passing to the Inquiry teams information on behalf of the Department. Individual officers retained the right to submit personal submissions, but Mr. Dring did not make a submission to the Anderson Inquiry. His personal statement is now in the Library of the House.

Small Business Support

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the support programmes for small businesses that (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have financed, including Common Agricultural Policy payments in each of the last five years; how much money was allocated for each scheme in each year; how much money has gone unclaimed under each scheme; and how many small businesses have benefited from each scheme.

Alun Michael: Information is available in the form requested only at disproportionate cost, but I hope the following will be helpful.
	The Cross-Cutting Review of Government Services for Small Business, published by the Small Business Service in December 2002, recorded that Defra and its agencies provided support to small businesses through over 120 schemes offering:
	Grants (including EU production subsidies to agriculture)
	Advice
	In-kind support
	The review estimated a total cost for these schemes of £3,120 million per year, the majority of which comprised production subsidies paid out under Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy. Some information about the range of schemes provided can be found in the Departmental Estimates for the year ending 31 March 2003, which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Although the 2002 review did not record how many businesses had benefited from the schemes operated, it recorded that Defra has significant contact with approximately 200,000 small and medium sized enterprises a year.
	A review of rural funding schemes was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 11 November 2003, and is now in progress.

PRIME MINISTER

Credit Card Debt

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the level of credit card debt.

John Prescott: I have been asked to reply.
	Last year, the Department for Trade and Industry published a White Paper on consumer credit that looked at credit card debt in the UK, suggested ways of tackling unmanageable levels of debt and offered advice to consumers looking for credit. The Government are working with the credit industry to ensure responsible lending and to increase access to free debt advice. I am also aware that the Bank of England publishes monthly statistics on credit card debt.

TRANSPORT

Car Usage

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has set targets for reducing car usage over the next 20 years.

David Jamieson: The Government have not set targets for car usage. The Government's strategy is to reduce congestion and to reduce the environmental effects through investment in public transport, better traffic management and support for cleaner motoring.

Hazardous Substances (Carriage at Sea)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 40W, on ships (dangerous cargoes), how many incidents resulted in (a) court actions and (b) fines; and what the (i) nature of the conviction and (ii) financial penalty was in each case.

David Jamieson: None of the incidents referred to in 2001 and 2002 resulted in court actions. In all of these cases it was either not possible to ascertain which vessels had lost the dangerous cargoes, or the spill occurred within harbour limits. In the latter case, it would be for the appropriate harbour authority to take forward court action.

Speed Cameras

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the accident records for each speed camera site in Essex.

David Jamieson: Safety cameras in Essex are operated by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership. My Department will shortly publish collision and casualty information for all Safety Camera Partnerships in England and Wales.

TREASURY

Civil Service Jobs

Stephen Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach across Government Departments to (a) the reduction in civil service jobs (i) announced in the Budget Statement and (ii) that may follow from the Gershon Review and (b) the proposals to relocate employment of civil servants contained in the Lyons report; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 23 March 2004
	Sir Peter Gershon will be working with Departments to help them prepare efficiency submissions as part of their overall spending plans to the 2004 Spending Review. These proposals will take account of departments' relocation plans submitted to the Lyons Review. Departments will be expected to integrate their plans on efficiency and relocation.

Accounting Officers

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on (a) the circumstances in which an accounting officer should seek a direction from a Minister before authorising expenditure, (b) the number of occasions since 6 June 2001 that such directions have been sought by accounting officers and (c) the Department and sum involved and the purpose of the expenditure for which a direction was sought in each case.

Ruth Kelly: The circumstances in which an accounting officer should seek a direction from a Minister before authorising expenditure are set out in paragraphs 15–18 of the Treasury document, "The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer", as updated in March 2004. This document is published as annex 4.1 of the Treasury guidance, "Government Accounting". It may be viewed online at www.government-accounting.gov.uk.
	The number of occasions since 6 June 2001 when such directions have been sought by accounting officers is four. The Departments concerned, together with general subject matter of each direction, were detailed in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 311W; the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 617W; the answer given by the Chief Secretary on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1037W; and in the answer given by his predecessor on 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 253W, relating to the direction issued in the then Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2002 and not, as stated in column 253W, in 2001.
	The Treasury is advised when a ministerial direction is issued, but comprehensive information on the sums involved and the purpose of the expenditure related to the direction is not provided to the Treasury by Departments.

Age-Related Allowances

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) raise the figure below which pensioners may retain the full benefit of age-related allowances and (b) reduce the effect of the taper above that figure.

Ruth Kelly: The purpose of the age-related allowances is to give extra help to those aged 65 and over who have to rely on relatively modest incomes. They are therefore subject to an income limit, which is reviewed as part of the Budget process. The Government have no plans to alter the rate of the taper where income exceeds the limit.
	Age-related personal allowances will increase in line with earnings rather than prices in April 2004 and will continue to do so for the remainder of this Parliament.

Financial Services

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessments his Department has made of the costs to the economy as a whole caused by poor consumer understanding of the (a) financial services and (b) consumer credit industries.

Ruth Kelly: Poor consumer understanding of financial services can arise through imperfect information and low levels of financial literacy.
	The Financial Services Authority, as part of its statutory objective to promote public understanding of the financial system, has published research (Occasional Paper 19) looking at how much a typical consumer would lose depending on their lifestage, reflecting the financial products held. For a typical young family this would equate to £268 per annum. No aggregate figure for financial services is available.
	The White Paper "Fair, Clear and Competitive: The Consumer Credit Market in the 21st Century" (Cm 6040) estimates that informational problems associated with unsecured lending in the credit market give rise to complaints of consumer detriment approaching £40 million per annum. The White Paper estimates that increasing the transparency of agreements could save consumers a total of £381 million per annum as consumers are better able to shop around for the best deals.
	Raising standards of financial literacy is an important part of the Government's wider strategy to reduce social and financial exclusion, and promote appropriate participation in the financial services industry, while tackling over-indebtedness, and promote saving.

Financial Services

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research to assess consumers' understanding of the different regulatory systems for equity release and home reversion schemes once the new Financial Services Authority's regulation comes into force.

Ruth Kelly: Sales of mortgage-based equity release schemes, also known as lifetime mortgages, will be regulated by the Financial Services Authority as from 31 October 2004. The Government are considering responses to the consultation on whether home reversion equity release schemes should also be regulated by the FSA. An announcement will be made in due course. The Government therefore have no plans to commission research to assess consumers' understanding of the different regulatory systems once the new FSA regulation comes into force.

Disposable Incomes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of real personal disposable income was in Greater London in each year since 1980; and what the percentage change was in each year compared with the previous year.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Simon Hughes, dated 24 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on real disposable personal income in Greater London since 1980. (163062)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not compile estimates of regional real disposable income. We do, however, publish estimates of regional gross disposable household income (GDHI) at current prices, as described under the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95). Estimates covering the period 1995 to 1999 were published on 26 March 2002 and data for the UK as a whole and for the London region are presented in the table below.
	
		Total gross disposable household income(3) (GDHI) UK and London region, 1995–1999
		
			  UK London Region 
			 Year GDHI Annual Change GDHI Annual Change 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1995 754,140  109,563  
			 1996 796,674 5.7 116,859 6.7 
			 1997 843,244 5.9 126,154 8.0 
			 1998 893,466 6.0 136,966 8.6 
			 1999 930,887 4.2 143,088 4.5 
		
	
	(3) Consistent with the 2001 National Accounts Blue Book
	(4) Excludes GDHI from the "extra regio" category which covers the contribution to GDHI from UK embassy staff and forces personnel stationed overseas
	Previous estimates for regional GDHI covering the period 1989–1999 were published in July 2001. They data are not consistent with those shown above, owing to revisions to methods and to input data. However, these earlier estimates are available on the ONS website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?ID=123&Pos=5&Col Rank=1&Rank=160
	Source:Office for National Statistics

European Council of Finance Ministers

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 9 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I was unable to attend ECOFIN on 9 March. The UK was represented by John Grant, (the UK permanent representative to the EU) and Jon Cunliffe, (Managing director of Macro Economic Policy and International Finance Directorate, HM Treasury).
	At the breakfast discussion, the Presidency invited Ministers to comment on a draft programme of future work, prepared by the Economic Policy Committee (EPC), to take forward the four Presidency initiatives on regulatory reform. Ministers reached a common understanding on the need for a work programme along the lines of the EPC paper, and that this should be reflected in the Key issues paper and the Spring Council Conclusions.
	ECOFIN adopted a Key Issues Paper for the Spring European Council.
	The Commission gave an assessment of national contributions to the Growth Initiative to date and Council conclusions were adopted.
	The Council examined the stability programmes for Belgium, Spain, Germany and Portugal and Council Opinions were agreed.
	ECOFIN gave its approval for the Commission to conclude a monetary agreement with Andorra.
	On the Savings Tax Directive, the UK updated the Council on progress with the UK dependent and associated territories. All eight have now made commitments to apply the same measures as member states. The Netherlands reported good progress on their model agreement for the Antilles and Aruba. The Commission updated on progress with Switzerland and the micro-states. The Council reiterated its full determination to come to a satisfactory and timely conclusion of the negotiations with negotiating partners.
	On VAT Reduced Rates, the Presidency outlined its intention to consider the matter further at working group level in preparation for discussion at a later ECOFIN.
	The Council agreed its Recommendation that the Commission should be granted discharge for its management of the 2002 budget. The UK joined the Netherlands and Denmark in expressing regret at the ninth successive negative Declaration of Assurance (DAS); in calling on the Commission to speed up its financial improvements; and in calling for ECOFIN auditors in member states and EU institutions to work more closely to improve external controls.
	The Council agreed a set of conclusions on the budget guidelines for 2005, which are consistent with the principles of budget discipline and UK policy on the community budget.

EU Budget

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the EU budget will be in 2004–05; what (a) proportion and (b) sums will be spent on (i) the Common Agricultural Policy, (ii) the Common Fisheries Policy, (iii) structural operations and (iv) overseas aid; and what estimate he has made of expenditure in each category for the remainder of the current multi-annual financial framework.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the following documents:
	General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2004 (Document reference: Official Journal L 53 of 23 February 2004)
	Preliminary Draft Amending Budget number 1 to the budget for 2004 (Document reference: SEC 2004 105)—page 9
	Annual Policy Strategy for 2005—pages 18–19 (Document reference: COM 2004 1333)
	Technical adjustment of the financial perspectives for 2005 in line with movements in GNI and prices—page 6 (Document reference: COM 2003 785)
	All these documents are available from the public website of the European Commission http://europa.eu.int/comm. The Preliminary Draft Amending Budget number 1 to the budget for 2004, the Annual Policy Strategy for 2005, and the Technical adjustment of the financial perspectives for 2005 have been deposited in the House.

Kenneth Norden

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet Mr.Kenneth Norden to discuss the loss of his final salary pension scheme.

Ruth Kelly: If the hon. Gentleman or his constituent would kindly write to me with full details of the issue that is of concern to him, I will look into it.

Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome have been reported since 1991.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 24 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome have been reported since 1991. (163165)
	The Office for National Statistics has recorded two deaths registered in England and Wales which include a mention of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome between 1991 and 2002, the latest year for which death registration figures are available.

Pre-Budget Report

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the (a) preparation and (b) distribution of the "What the Pre-Budget Report Means For" series of documents specific to each English region.

Ruth Kelly: The total cost of the preparation and distribution of the regional 2003 Pre-Budget Report leaflets was £2,100. This covered the production of 1,500 leaflets for each of the nine Government Office English regions, as well as for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The total cost included distribution of the leaflets to the Government Offices and the Devolved Administrations.

Same-sex Couples

Edward Leigh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many same-sex couple households there are in England and Wales according to the 2001 Census; and how many same-sex couple households there are in Great Britain according to the Labour Force Survey.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Edward Leigh, dated 24 March 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many same-sex couple households there are in England and Wales according to the 2001 Census; and how many same-sex couple households there are in Great Britain according to the Labour Force Survey. (163070).
	The 2001 Census defines a same-sex couple as two people of the same sex, both resident in the same household, who report themselves as partners on the Census form. Figures published in table UV93 in the 2001 Census National Report for England and Wales Part 2 on the number of people with same-sex partners indicate that there were 39,261 co-residential same-sex couples in England and Wales identified by the 2001 Census. However, same-sex couples can only be identified if they choose to declare themselves as partners on the Census form. Thus the count of co-residential same-sex couples would be an underestimate of the true number. It is not known to what extent there was an undercount because, for example, same-sex couples may have ticked some other box in the relationship field such as 'Unrelated'. Furthermore, a household may contain more than one couple and there is no exact count of the number of same-sex households from the 2001 Census.
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) gives information about same-sex couple households for each three-month period. It collects information on residents in private households. Questions are designed to establish whether each resident is cohabiting or not, and, if so, with which other household member. However, same-sex partnership can only be distinguished if the respondent volunteers the fact; it is not asked. In the LFS, a same-sex couple is defined as two respondents who are living together as a couple in the household and who are the same sex.
	In the three-month period ending November 2003, 50,887 same-sex couple households in Great Britain were identified on this basis. The LFS is a sample survey covering over 57,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three-month period. As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling error.
	It is not possible to derive an estimate of the number of co-residential same-sex couples in Scotland by taking the difference of the two estimates provided in this answer, since data were provided at different times and in different contexts, and each figure is subject to estimation error.
	There will be a more comprehensive analysis of how to interpret information on same sex couples later this year.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury works with the Office of Science and Technology, the DTI and the DfES on the implementation of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation. HM Treasury's own direct expenditure on science and research is relatively small and is limited to economic advice, analysis and statistics: for example, during 2002–03, around £250,000 was spent on some 15 projects funded from the Macroeconomic Research Budget.
	A 10-year investment framework for science and innovation, on which a consultation document was published recently 1 , will be published alongside the 2004 spending review. This is also a joint project between HM Treasury, the Office of Science and Technology, the DTI and the DfES, and will look at a number of areas of Government policy in relation to science and innovation, including ensuring that Government Departments remain well placed to exploit the opportunities that science and research have to offer. In particular, it will build on the 2002 Cross-Cutting Review of Science and Research, which fed into Investing in Innovation and set out recommendations to improve the management of Government Departments' research strategies and budgets.
	1 Science and innovation: working towards a ten-year investment framework, HMT, DfES & DTI, 16 March 2004.

Stamp Duty

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the tax take for stamp duty on residential property for each band at which it is charged for 2004–05; and how much was raised in this way in each tax year since 1997–98.

Ruth Kelly: Estimates of receipts from stamp duty on residential property at each of the tax bands, from 1997–98 to 2002–03, are given at http://www.inlandrevenue. gov.uk/stats/stamp duty703IR153.pdf. Estimates of receipts at each tax band for 2003–04, and projections for 2004–05, are not available.

Strip Stamps

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received in support of his proposal to introduce strip stamps.

John Healey: Since the Chancellor's announcement in the Pre-Budget Report that the Government were considering introducing tax stamps for spirits, Treasury Ministers and Officials have received a wide range of representations on this and on the spirits industry's alternative package of measures. Those representations acknowledge that spirits fraud is a serious problem and needs to be addressed but differ in their views on how to tackle this effectively. The main concerns highlighted related to the impact and compliance costs of tax stamps. In making his decision that tax stamps are necessary to tackle spirits fraud, the Chancellor took account of concerns raised and announced on Budget Day that he will help the trade financially with the cash-flow costs and capital investment associated with the introduction of tax stamps. He also announced that there would be a further freeze on spirits duty—for the seventh Budget in a row and, indeed, that spirits duty will be frozen for the remainder of this Parliament.
	Officials are working with the industry to consider how the offsetting measures can be effectively targeted and applied and to develop the detailed arrangements for tax stamps in a way that minimises additional burdens on business and causes minimal disruption to the trade's operations.

Strip Stamps

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of options for the elimination of spirits duty evasion other than the introduction of strip stamps.

John Healey: This Government have given exhaustive consideration over recent years, in close consultation with the alcohol industry, to finding ways to tackle the serious problem of spirits duty fraud.
	HM Customs and Excise held a formal consultation on tax stamps in late 2001 and early 2002. They conducted a further formal consultation in the summer of 2003 on regulatory options for reducing opportunities for fraud in the alcohol holding and movement system.
	Partly as a result of those earlier discussions, a number of measures have already been put in place or are planned to tackle spirits fraud. These include the creation of a Joint Spirits Fraud Task Force in 2002 and the development of draft Memoranda of Understanding between Customs and key spirits trade associations. Customs have also strengthened their operational response to fraud, including the creation of a National Discreditation Team to detect illicit loads which were destined to be diverted after arrival in the UK.
	Despite these ongoing efforts, Customs' estimates, published alongside the Pre-Budget Report in December 2003, showed that around £600 million of revenue was lost through spirits fraud in 2001–2002. The Government therefore announced that tax stamps for spirits would be introduced from 2006 unless the industry put forward alternative measures that would be as effective as tax stamps in combating fraud.
	There has been a further intensive period of discussions with the industry since December on all aspects of tax stamps and alternative options. The industry put forward an alternative package of 17 proposals. However, as announced in the Budget, the Government's assessment is that the anti-fraud impact of the alternative package falls significantly short of that estimated for tax stamps. The package contains inherent weaknesses: it leaves the door open for displacement to other types of fraud, most notably inward diversion; it stands to be undermined by a complicit party; and unlike tax stamps it does not tackle the problem of identification—the ability for consumers, retailers and Customs officers to distinguish readily between licit and illicit products.
	A full assessment of the industry's package of alternative proposals to tax stamps will form part of a Regulatory Impact Assessment, to be published alongside this year's Finance Bill.

Strip Stamps

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has conducted on fraudulent production of strip stamps in other countries; and what security measures he proposes to guard against the fraudulent production of strip stamps in the UK.

John Healey: Officials from HM Customs and Excise have contacted forty countries which operate tax stamps to discuss their regimes and experience of fraudulent strip stamps. From the twenty-five detailed responses received it is clear that fraudulent production can be limited by the use of anti-counterfeiting measures.
	In addition, Customs have conducted a series of discussions with security printers and other experts in anti-counterfeiting technology. This has revealed a wide range of overt, covert and forensic features which could be used to protect UK tax stamps from counterfeiting.
	Customs will continue detailed discussion's with the industry and continue to draw on a wide range of expert opinion's in their work on implementation of tax stamps for spirits in the UK.

Strip Stamps

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) UK distilled and (b) imported products will be affected by the introduction of strip stamps.

John Healey: Subject to certain exceptions, to be determined following further discussions with the industry, tax stamps will apply to retail containers of spirits, and to wine and made wine with a strength exceeding 22 per cent. alcohol by volume.
	The requirement for UK retail containers of spirits to bear a tax stamp will, however, apply equally both to imported and to home produced goods.

Tax Receipts

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total tax take has been in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Historic data on net taxes and social security contributions are available in table C4 of the public finances databank on the HM Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic data and tools/pubfinance/data pubfinance databank.cfm

Unclaimed Deposits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unclaimed deposits in banks and building societies have remained so for more than (a) 50 years and (b) 100 years; and what estimate he has made of the total value of such deposits.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 March 2004
	There is currently no official estimate of the number of unclaimed deposits in banks and building societies or their total value.

CABINET OFFICE

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent cost-benefit analysis he has made of the Better Regulation Task Force; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The chairman and members of the Better Regulation Task Force are unpaid. The total running costs of the Task Force amount to about £0.5 million a year.
	Since 1997 the Task Force has published 30 substantive reports and made around 400 recommendations to Government. All but 10 have been accepted.
	Major reforms currently under way or recently enacted, that follow earlier recommendations by the Task Force include the reform of planning law, liquor licensing and fire safety.
	The Task Force monitors the Government's implementation of its recommendations.

Computer Misuse

Steve Webb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003, broken down by category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Douglas Alexander: The information requested is not available for 1997. There were two cases of computer misuse in the Cabinet Office in 2003. Both cases involved inappropriate use of the internet and resulted in disciplinary action.

e-Government

Ian Gibson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what powers the Head of e-Government will have to co-ordinate departmental database plans.

Douglas Alexander: A key responsibility of the Head of e-Government will be to develop a Government wide IS/ICT strategy, standards and technical architecture. Within that remit we would expect to define a data architecture to support all government operations.
	In addition, the Office of the e-Envoy is currently working closely with the Office for National Statistics, who are leading the development of the Citizen Information Project.

Permanent Secretary ofGovernment Communications

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenditure is planned to be incurred in the establishment of the Permanent Secretary of Government Communications; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Permanent Secretary Government Communications will work to ensure a co-ordinated approach and interaction between government and citizens with regard to the development and delivery of the Government's communications strategy.
	The budget for this remit has been set at £3.4 million for 2004–05.
	This includes efficiency savings of £1 million by the centralising of communications functions from across Cabinet Office units; for existing GIGS central functions funding, and for expenditure linked to the establishment of the Permanent Secretary role.

Public Appointments

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many nominations for public office were made in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004; and how many of these were made online.

Douglas Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Individual departments are responsible for making appointments to their own public bodies.
	In order to provide greater access to information about opportunities to serve on the boards of public bodies, my Department launched a new public appointments vacancy website www.publicappts-vacs.gov.uk in March 2003. People can search the site by area of interest, Government Department and by location to find details of the vacancies of most interest to them, including how and where to apply.

WALES

University Students

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of students domiciled in Wales went on to university in each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: The only figures available for Welsh domiciled students entering university are for students leaving Welsh school sixth forms following Year 13 who entered a University or College of Higher Education. Figures are not collected for students entering University from other routes, such as further education, or mature students.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 63 
			 1998 65 
			 1999 65 
			 2000 64 
			 2001 67 
			 2002 67 
		
	
	Source:
	Careers Wales survey of pupil destinations from schools in Wales at 31 October of each year.

NHS Funding

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had since 25 February with the National Assembly for Wales Government on NHS funding in Wales.

Don Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister concerning the health service in Wales: funding for NHS Wales is one of the topics that we frequently discuss.
	The increased funding for health as a result of the Spending Review 2002 mean that in 2004–05 the Assembly Government have been able to allocate almost 95 per cent. more to the health budget than in 1996–97.

Welsh Development Agency

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the work of the Welsh Development Agency.

Peter Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest to us, including the work of the WDA.

Wind Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had on the (a) environmental and (b) health impact of wind farms in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with a range of organisations on a wide variety of issues including on matters concerning the development of renewable energy projects.

Airbus

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) the National Assembly for Wales Government (i) to promote and (ii) to enhance the Airbus project at Broughton.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, the First Minister and other stakeholders about a range of issues including the aerospace industry in Wales.
	The launch investment aid of £530 million provided demonstrates the Government's practical and political support for Airbus to build the wings for the super jumbo project at Broughton and is a significant part of what is being done for the aerospace industry in Wales.

Pensioners

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government and Cabinet colleagues on targeted help for the poorest pensioners in Wales.

Don Touhig: Regular ones. We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of Wales.

National Lottery

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was raised from the National Lottery in Wales in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is set out in a table prepared by Camelot that was placed in the Libraries of both Houses in response to a written parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 18 November 2003, Official Report, column 764W. The table lists sales of National Lottery tickets by postcode area since the Lottery's launch up to November 2003.

Rail Passenger Council

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives from the Rail Passenger Council in Wales.

Peter Hain: The Rail Passenger Council is the national body that co-ordinates the work of the regional committees. In Wales, the representative body is the Rail Passenger Committee.
	Andrew Davies AM, the Assembly Minister for Economic Development and Transport, last met with the Committee's Chair and Secretary on 29 July 2003. I hold regular discussions with the Minister on all transport issues affecting Wales.

Supermarket Code of Practice

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly on the effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Responsibility for monitoring the Supermarket Code of Practice rests with the Office of Fair Trading. It published its first annual review of the operation of the Code on 20 February 2004. The review found a widespread belief among suppliers that the Code was not working effectively. However, suppliers did not provide any hard evidence to support their view. The Office of Fair Trading is therefore carrying out a further compliance audit to establish how supermarkets deal with suppliers under the Code.

DEFENCE

Bowman Radio System

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Bowman radio system will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Bowman tactical communication system will achieve its full operational capability incrementally. Following the programme's planned delivery into service in 2004, the aim is for the first brigade converted to Bowman to undertake a further 15 months of unit and collective performance training to achieve warfighting operational readiness. Based on current progress, this will be in 2005.

Brimstone Missile

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what (a) short range air-to-air, (b) beyond-visual-range air-to-air, (c) precision anti-armour and (d) other stand-off weapons the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) will be equipped; and for what reasons the requirement for (A) advanced short range air-to-air missiles and (B) Brimstone systems was removed from the JCA programme.

Adam Ingram: No final decisions have been taken on the weapons fit for the Joint Combat Aircraft, beyond the requirement that it will have a precision bombing capability and an air to air capability when it enters service.
	Weapons systems that we are considering integrating on JCA as the requirement evolves include:
	Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile
	Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
	Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (Meteor)
	Paveway IV
	Storm Shadow
	Brimstone
	Our considerations will cover which weapons should be carried internally and which should be carried externally on JCA. Under current plans, it is not considered cost or operationally effective for JCA to carry ASRAAM and Brimstone externally, but the internal carriage of these weapons remains an option.

Deepcut Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of Brigadier Evans 1995 review of Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks.

Adam Ingram: Yes. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Deepcut Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommendations were of the 3 December 2002 Final Report of the Deputy Adjutant General on the Deepcut investigation; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Adam Ingram: The Deputy Adjutant General made the following recommendations in his Final Report:
	the establishment at Deepcut should be revised in order to provide a supervisory ratio of approximately 1:38, and the resultant requirement for an increment of up to 12 officers and 50 NCOs be funded in the Short Term Plan 2003 (£2.2 million);
	the supervisory ratios across the entire Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) should be reviewed and brought to appropriate levels in line with a clearly defined and endorsed policy for all training establishments and which can be carried forward into the Defence Training Review;
	performance Indicators and Targets placed upon the ATRA should be reviewed and reordered to prevent inconsistency with the best interests of the trainees and the reduction of Soldiers Awaiting Trade Training;
	the routine security and guarding of the Deepcut site should be taken over by MPGS as soon as practicable at a cost of £1.7 million;
	a common induction training package for ATRA Phase 2 instructors and supervisors should be implemented in order to raise standards towards those prevailing in Phase 1;
	the detailed observations and taskings in the Joint Surrey Police/Army Learning Account should be implemented forthwith.
	Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Defence Employment (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Ministry of Defence civilian personnel and (b) servicemen and women were employed in bases and establishments in Essex (i) in 1992, (ii) in 1997 and (iii) on the latest available date.

Ivor Caplin: Reliable data on civilian personnel are only available at Government Office region. The number of Ministry of Defence civilian personnel located in the eastern region in 1993, 1997 and January 2004 were as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1 April 1993 5,430 
			 1 April 1997 5,910 
			 1 January 2004 5,860 
		
	
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Reliable data are not available for 1992.
	The number of Service personnel located in Essex in 1992,1997 and 2002 were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 July 1992 3,800 
			 1 July 1997 3,190 
			 1 July 2002(5) 3,710 
		
	
	(5) Location data as at 1 July 2002 are the latest available.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Figures are for UK Regular Forces (including both Trained and Untrained personnel), and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and Naval Activated Reservists.

End-to-End Review

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will determine its response to the End-to-End Review; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 23 March 2004
	The aim of the End-to-End Review was to find ways to improve logistics support to the armed forces, and to do this more efficiently. The End-to-End Study reported on 1 July 2003 and an 18 month Demonstration Phase commenced on 8 September 2003. A summary of the findings from the Review has been placed in the House Library.
	The Demonstration Phase is using pilots to test End-to-End principles and to reduce risk. In parallel, the efficacy of some of the recommendations are being assessed and subjected to thorough investment appraisals prior to full implementation. I will make a more substantive statement on the implementation of the End-to-End Review when appropriate.

Eurofighter

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Administration on whether Eurofighter could bring potential benefits to the United States Air Force.

Adam Ingram: None.

Future Rapid Effects System

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an announcement on the future of the Future Rapid Effects System before the Easter recess.

Adam Ingram: I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way ahead shortly, but this will not be before the Easter recess.

Service Suicides (Reports)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel Hawley in his October 1998 report that scoped the scale and nature of psychological morbidity among Army recruits; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Adam Ingram: Lieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper on A Study of Attempted Suicide in the Army: 10 Years of Experience 1987 to 1996 came to the following conclusions:
	a prospective cohort study should be undertaken over a period of five years to confirm the findings of this scoping study and to extend the analysis;
	a review of the current selection criteria for entry into the Army should be undertaken in order to help select individuals appropriately;
	a formalisation of the criteria for dealing and disposing of individuals who have attempted suicide should be completed;
	training in the identification of individuals at risk should be introduced to all leadership courses.
	This paper was not commissioned by the Army but produced as a result of private academic research in 1998. The report was not seen by the Chain of Command at the time and no action was taken. It coincided with a more major body of official research, the Walton Report. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of Lieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper in the Library of the House.

Service Suicides (Reports)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by the 1996 Walton report on circumstances relating to unnatural deaths in the Army; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Adam Ingram: Dr. Suzy Walton's research into Suicide in the British Army resulted in a report that was published in five parts during the period December 1996 to September 1998. All recommendations have been acted upon. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Information Technology

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what audit mechanisms are in place to determine whether information technology (a) hardware and (b) software products are being used properly in his Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has several hundred computer systems in use ranging from corporate IT systems serving thousands of users to business area systems serving smaller communities. This means that a detailed and specific answer to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There are, however, some practices which are standard across the department and these are detailed as follows.
	Information systems within the Department are controlled by Security and Operating Procedures (SyOps). Each System is only accredited for use once the procedures have been approved by the Departmental Security Officer. All users are required to observe the SyOps; enforcement is the responsibility of individual System Security Officer(SSO's)/Information Technology Security Officers (ITSO's).
	Joint Service Publication (JSP) 440, covering these issues was revised last year. SyOps are revised as necessary as and when new threats to security arise. A recent example is the appearance of photo-messaging which has required that mobile phones be prohibited in some areas where formally they were permitted.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of (a) full-time and (b) reservist personnel who refused to serve in Iraq, and the action taken against them; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 23 March 2004
	No regular or reserve personnel have refused to serve in Iraq. However, one regular member of the armed forces registered a conscientious objection on the grounds of religion, which was accepted and he was subsequently discharged.

Typhoon

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what suppression of enemy air defences capabilities the Typhoon will have.

Adam Ingram: The baseline design for Typhoon includes the ability to integrate a SEAD capability such as ALARM. The United Kingdom is currently negotiating with industry and partner negotiations on what weapons fit will be incorporated into Typhoon as part of Tranche 2.

Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Bulwark will enter service.

Adam Ingram: HMS Bulwark is planned to enter service with the Royal Navy by the end of March 2005.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Sure Start Maternity Grant

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many workers in Buckingham have taken up the Sure Start maternity grant.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the table.
	
		Awards of Sure Start Maternity Grants in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire district, broken down by qualifying benefit/tax credit
		
			  Income support Jobseekers allowance (Income based) Tax credits Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,317 199 505 2,021 
			 2001–02 1,414 189 783 2,386 
			 2002–03 1,499 225 1,151 2,875 
			 2003–04 1,379 242 1,166 2,787 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data are not available by parliamentary constituency. Buckingham parliamentary constituency is part of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Jobcentre Plus District, which was formed by merging Buckinghamshire Social Fund District and Oxfordshire Social Fund District in December 2002. For comparison purposes, data before the merger is given for Buckinghamshire Social Fund District and Oxfordshire Social Fund District combined.
	2. Data on applications by workers are not available.
	3. The available data are given in the tables above. Prior to 2003–04, tax credits refer to Working Families' Tax Credit and Disabled Person's Tax Credit. From 2003–04, tax credits refer to Child Tax Credit (CTC) payable at a rate higher than the family element and Working Tax Credit where the disability or severe disability element is included in the award. Where a Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) is awarded and the applicant or partner is in receipt of both Income Support (IS) and CTC at the appropriate rate, the SSMG award will be recorded under IS. Similarly, where a SSMG is awarded and the applicant or partner is in receipt of both Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-Based) (JSA(IB)) and CTC at the appropriate rate, the SSMG award should be recorded under JSA(IB).
	4. Data for 2003–04 are for April 2003 to February 2004 only.
	Source:
	DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Departmental Scientific Adviser

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has a chief scientific adviser.

Malcolm Wicks: Professor Mansel Aylward, CB is the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department for Work and Pensions. Dr. Paul Davies is the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Health and Safety Executive.

Disability Living Allowance

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Department has decided to discontinue the Activities for Managing Life system for assessing claims for disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Initial tests of the Activities for Managing Life (AMLs) assessment model as a potential alternative method of assessing entitlement to Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance were not sufficiently encouraging to justify further development and testing of the model. We believe that our delivery objectives of substantially improved customer service and more speedy, accurate and consistent decision making can best be achieved through the Disability and Carers Service's change programme, which is designed to modernise the delivery of the benefits on the basis of the current assessment arrangements.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women receiving incapacity benefit payments made on mental health grounds in relation to (i) stress and (ii) depression received these payments for longer than (A) one month, (B) six months, (C) a year and (D) two years in each year since 1997; and if he will break down these payments by region.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The information has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with mental ill health have been classified as hospital in-patients for more than a year for the purposes of benefit, broken down by (a) age, (b) diagnosis and (c) category of mental ill health.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Mental Health

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the types of establishment accommodating people with mental ill health who are classified as hospital in-patients for more than a year for the purposes of benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: For benefit purposes, a person is regarded as receiving or having received free in-patient treatment for any period when they are maintained free of charge while undergoing medical or other treatment in a hospital or similar institution, under the National Health Service Act 1997, the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 or the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or in a hospital or similar institution maintained or administered by the Defence Council.

Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to address the imbalances in levels of pensions between men and women, with particular reference to women from ethnic minorities.

Malcolm Wicks: Measures instituted by this Government since 1997 to improve pensioners' incomes have been targeted largely on those in the lower part of the income distribution who tend to be older, female, and from ethnic minorities.
	The main measures since 1997 include: above inflation increases in the Basic State Pension between April 2000 and April 2003; the introduction of the Minimum Income Guarantee and then Pension Credit which, from April 2004, will ensure that no single pensioner need live on less than £105.45 a week and no couple on less than £160.95 a week, as well as providing extra support for those with modest savings; Winter Fuel payments of £200 a year for the remainder of this Parliament; an extra £100 a year within the Winter Fuel Payments for those aged 80 or over; free TV licences for individuals aged 75 or over; and an extra 100 for households with at least one pensioner aged 70 or over.
	The Government will be spending around £10 billion a year extra on pensioners in 2004–05 as a result of these measures. They have resulted in pensioner households gaining £1,350 a year in real terms with the poorest third of pensioners gaining £1,750 a year in real terms.
	In addition, the DWP provides comprehensive guidance to staff on providing a service to ethnic minority communities. The Department also provides information in a range of languages and holds an annual Ethnic Minority forum at which issues affecting black and minority ethnic pensioners are discussed.

Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to require compulsory employer contributions to workers' pensions.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government currently have no plans to require compulsory employer contributions. We believe in the value of employer contributions but also in the pensions partnership that is at the heart of the voluntarist system.
	It is, however, important that progress is independently monitored. That is why we have established the Pensions Commission to monitor how the voluntarist system is developing. On the basis of the Commission's recommendations, we will decide whether there is a case for moving beyond the current voluntary approach.

Pensions

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to reach a conclusion prior to the report stage of the Pensions Bill as to his policy on the position of those pension fund holders who have already lost out and are precluded from cover by the proposed protection fund as a result of the proposed date of entry of the same.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are sympathetic to all those people who will not receive the pension they worked so hard to build up for their future retirement. We have been meeting some of those affected and listened to suggestions regarding assistance ahead of the Pension Protection Fund's introduction. But there are complex arguments on both sides.
	We are now exploring with industry representatives the basis on which we can establish firm estimates of the extent of the problem of defined benefit schemes winding-up under funded, the numbers affected and the potential scale of losses. Once those data have been collated, I will be in a better position to report more fully the findings of our examinations and what, if any, the appropriate course of action should be.

Retirement Age

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the statutory retirement age in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no statutory retirement age in the UK, in the sense of an age at which legislation requires a person to retire.
	The state pension age is currently 65 for men and 60 for women but will increase gradually from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020 to allow employees and employers as well as companies running pension schemes time to plan for and implement the changes.
	We have signalled our intention to maintain the state pension age at 65 (there is a consensus that people should have the right to work longer but that this should be voluntary and not forced). However, both Private and State Pension systems allow individuals to work past this age and accrue higher pensions.
	Proposals in the Pensions Bill will allow individuals to receive better rewards for deferring their state pension in the form of a lump sum payment or increased pension when an individual eventually retires.
	The minimum age at which tax privileged retirement benefits can be drawn from a private pension scheme will be raised to 55 years by 2010. It is possible to retire earlier in exchange for an actuarial reduction of private pension. The actual amounts are dependant on the type of pension scheme and when the employee retires. It is a requirement of tax legislation that schemes should have a normal pension age reflecting the age at which individuals would usually withdraw their pension.
	We are proposing to raise the age at which public sector employees can draw an unreduced pension from 60 to 65. This age would apply regardless of the employee's length of service but certain occupations where the physical capacity of the job justify the award of a normal pension at a lower age will continue.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation.

Malcolm Wicks: Evidence from research plays a key role in developing, monitoring and evaluating the business of the Department. The Department has developed a cycle of investigation and research, leading to informed planning to implement change (sometimes through pilots which refine innovative approaches), and then monitoring to assess the impact. This cycle is reflected in a parallel process of consulting upon and commissioning our social research programme through open tendering. The analytical community has been reorganised and aligned with policy and delivery units, integrating analysis and policymaking to provide the highest level of evidence-based policy making. The Department has maintained the level of research spending, and rigorous evaluation and monitoring of new developments. All research is published on the internet so that it is freely available to anyone who would wish to use it.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Asbestos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of buildings occupied by (a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry has ensured all buildings occupied by its staff that could contain asbestos have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. For those Executive Agencies where the Department holds information, the position is similar.
	Letter from Caren Fullerton to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004
	Within the past 9 months surveys have been undertaken in each of the 5 buildings occupied by Patent Office staff, for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
	The surveys were arranged and managed by The Patent Office in respect of the 3 buildings solely occupied by Patent Office staff, and by the Office for National Statistics and the Charity Commission in respect of buildings where the Patent Office is a minor occupier.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004
	I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	A survey of our Cardiff offices was carried out in August 2002 by a specialist consultant in accordance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. They compiled a detailed asbestos register which has been updated as work is carried out. The building accommodates 1,264 Companies House staff and approximately 300 tenants from the DTI and DWP.
	Our offices in Edinburgh and London accommodating 47 staff, are rented from the DWP and the Insolvency Service respectively, and are therefore outwith our control.
	Letter from David Smith to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004
	You have asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for information about asbestos surveys in relation to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 in her Department and its Agencies. This request has just been passed to me in respect of the Radiocommunications Agency.
	The Radiocommunications Agency ( RA) was a DTI Agency until 28 December 2003 when its responsibilities, functions and assets (including land and buildings) were transferred to the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
	As the Agency's Accounting Officer, I continue to have responsibility for ensuring that the transfer of staff and DTI assets have been properly carried out and reflected in the RA accounts as part of the implementation of the Communications Act 2003. But from 29 December the relevant Accounting Officer for the information you are seeking is Ofcom's Chief Executive, Stephen Carter. Ofcom is a statutory corporation and therefore falls outside the arrangements by which Agencies respond to Parliamentary Questions.
	For future reference, Mr Carter's address is:
	Office of Communications
	Riverside House
	2a Southwark Bridge Road
	London SE1 9HA.
	Letter from Graham Horne to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect to your question (2003/1822) dated 3 March 2004 asking which buildings occupied by staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to implementation of the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
	The Insolvency Service has surveyed all of its buildings for asbestos, apart from one, which will be surveyed in April 2004.
	Letter from J. W. Llewellyn to Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 March 2004
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question about surveys for identifying the presence of asbestos in buildings occupied by NWML staff.
	The National Weights and Measures Laboratory moved into a purpose built laboratory at Teddington in 1988. The building has been surveyed recently and the preliminary report confirms that no asbestos is present.

Bullying

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy towards bullying in the workplace by senior management personnel, with particular reference to local government officers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government take the issue of bullying at work very seriously. We believe bullying is unacceptable whether by senior managers or between colleagues in any sector of industry.
	This spring the Government intend to consult on a code of conduct for local administration employees. The aim of such a code would be to establish broad ethical principles for all authority employees. Such a code would complement the existing model code for councillors, and could be incorporated into the conditions of service of the employees of all relevant local authorities. Among the provisions which the code could contain would be a requirement that the employee must treat others with respect.

Civil Partnerships

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is a requirement on the United Kingdom to create a legal status for same-sex couples.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are proposing the creation of a new legal relationship of civil partnership for reasons of general equality and social justice. There is no legal requirement on the United Kingdom to create a legal status for same-sex couples.

Civil Partnerships

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether legal rights and benefits to which married couples are entitled will not be given to registered same-sex couples in the Civil Partnership Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The Government consulted on the extent and nature of rights and responsibilities to which civil partners should be entitled last year. The Government will make clear their proposals on introduction of the forthcoming Civil Partnership Bill.

Civil Partnerships

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long a same-sex couple will be required to live together before they can register their partnership under the proposed Civil Partnership Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy is that same-sex couples would not be required to live together before entering a civil partnership.

Civil Partnerships

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason unfaithfulness similar to adultery has been omitted as a ground for dissolution of civil partnerships; and what obligation there is upon those entering a civil partnership to stay together for life.

Jacqui Smith: The detailed proposals for a dissolution procedure will appear in the forthcoming Civil Partnership Bill. Government policy is that the conduct of a civil partner who is unfaithful could amount to unreasonable behaviour on which dissolution proceedings could be grounded. This would be a matter for individual dissolution proceedings.
	The Government's proposals for civil partnership are designed for those people in, or wishing to enter into, same-sex couple relationships that are intended to be permanent. The significant rights and responsibilities flowing from the new legal relationship of civil partnership and the formality of the proposed dissolution procedure underline the seriousness of the commitment expected.

Civil Partnerships

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legal protection will be afforded to registrars who hold a principled and conscientious objection to conducting a civil partnership registration under the proposed Civil Partnership Bill.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's policy is that there would be a legal requirement on registration authorities to provide the means to register a civil partnership. This would have to be provided to the same high standards as for other statutory services.

Coal Industry

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what commitments regarding working facilities were given by the National Union of Mineworkers to (a) Ministers and (b) the Coal Authority before the announcement of investment aid on 3 March 2003.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 March 2004
	Dr. Ian Roxburgh, the Chief Executive of the Coal Authority, met representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in January 2003 during work which he undertook at the request of the then Minister for Energy, my hon. Friend, the Member for Cunningham North (Mr. Wilson), to develop proposals to secure greater certainty for the future of the industry. That discussion permitted Dr. Roxburgh to advise ministers that the NUM was fully committed to proposals which would enable the introduction of a coal investment aid package, accepted that they would entail changes to working practices, and had agreed that they would examine flexible working on a pit by pit basis.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met NUM representatives on 12 February 2003. The discussion included these proposals and the likelihood of coal investment aid that would support particular projects to maintain access to reserves and hence production at specified mines. The need for changed working practices, including flexible working, to maximise the value of aided projects was also discussed and the NUM representatives did not repudiate the position that Dr. Roxburgh had reported.

Foreign Investment (London)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) assessments and (b) surveys her Department has (i) used and (ii) commissioned to assess the reasons why foreign companies (A) open and (B) maintain offices in London.

Mike O'Brien: Through UK Trade & Investment's investor development programme, which entails systematic contact—both in the UK and overseas—with the senior management of many overseas-owned companies present in the UK, we assess the reasons why companies set up in the UK and the factors that will impact on future business location decisions.
	This is backed up by company surveys, commissioned by UK Trade & Investment. These are available on request from UK Trade & Investment. They are focused on the national picture.

New Businesses (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have been established in Crosby since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 93,100 business start ups in England and Wales, including 500 in Sefton Local Authority (for which Crosby is a constituency), in the third quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 384,900 business start ups in England and Wales in the 12 months ending September 2003. This represents a 3 per cent. increase on the year before. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Sefton Local Authority (for which Crosby is a constituency) are shown in the table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in Autumn 2004.
	
		VAT Registrations: 1997–2002
		
			  Sefton 
		
		
			 1997 570 
			 1998 585 
			 1999 565 
			 2000 545 
			 2001 580 
			 2002 560 
		
	
	Note:
	VAT registrations and de-registrations, which do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service.

E-Auctions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the conduct of e-auctions.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During the last 18 months I have received 12 representations on the conduct of e-auctions. Consumers have experienced problems with payment transmission services and in obtaining redress when goods for which they have paid have not been delivered.
	The Department issued guidance on 29 December 2003 advising consumers how to guard against internet auction risks—such as lack of information about the seller—and about their rights when buying from private individuals. The guidance is available from the Consumer Gateway at http://www2.consumer.gov.uk/consumer web/e-shopping.htm_5.

Post Offices (Chelmsford and Mid-Essex)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps were taken during the development of the post office area plan for Chelmsford and mid Essex to assess the consequences of the plan for levels of road accidents and fatalities involving pedestrians;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the change in the number of road journeys consequent on the closure of sub-post offices in Chelmsford over the last 18 months;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the health and social care implications of the closure of sub-post offices in Chelmsford over the last 18 months.

Stephen Timms: There are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to write direct to the hon. Member.

Postal Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations she undertook with (a) Postwatch, (b) Post Office users, (c) the CBI and (d) FSB before approving as shareholder the retiming of the first or main postal delivery after 9 a.m.

Stephen Timms: Conditions on the delivery of mail are a licensing matter for the regulator, Postcomm. The Postal Services Act 2000, and the Licence granted by Postcomm under it, requires Royal Mail to make one daily delivery to every household in the United Kingdom. It does not specify the time at which this has to be made. Postcomm, therefore, does not have authority to dictate the time of the daily delivery. Postwatch (The Consumer Council) has worked closely with Royal Mail (and the CWU) throughout the process to ensure that the change to a single daily delivery balances commercial necessity against customer need. Postwatch undertook extensive research jointly with Royal Mail to ensure that any adverse effect on consumers was minimised. Postwatch advocated local flexibility rather than a "one-size-fits-all" solution and continues to work with Royal Mail at a local level to help ensure a smooth transition.

Research and Development

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the research and development tax credit on levels of investment in research and development.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil's question 156766 on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 796W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

"Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime:A New Approach"

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what method was used to estimate the effect on crime rates of the increased use of prison set out on page 16 of "Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime: A New Approach"; and if he will list the sources used in the preparation of the estimate.

Paul Goggins: The estimate of the effect on crime rates of increased prison was made by Patrick Carter's team as part of his independent review of correctional services. I understand that the estimate was arrived at after examining a number of sources both international and domestic that encompassed a range of different techniques and results.

"Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime:A New Approach"

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is for the statement on page 15 of "Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime: A New Approach" that 100,000 persistent offenders commit 50 per cent. of all crime.

Paul Goggins: The statistic is taken from Annexe B of the Criminal Justice System document, Criminal Justice; The Way ahead, published February 2001.

Animal Welfare

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information, the effects of his Department's policies and action in relation to animal welfare since 2 May 1997 for the Vale of Clwyd constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Records are not held at constituency level but key achievements since 1997 include:
	Treaty Protocol on Animal Welfare which amends the Treaty of Rome and recognises animals as sentient beings, not merely commodities to be traded.Agreement on the farm animal welfare Directive setting minimum standards across the EU, implemented by the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2000.Improved standards for laying hens, which include a ban on barren battery cages throughout the EU and a Europe-wide ban on close—confinement sow stalls, which have been banned in the UK since January 1999. The creation of Defra in 2001 provided an opportunity to move the responsibility for welfare of all animals kept by man to a single Minister (with the exception of animals kept for experimental purposes which stays with the Home Office). Following consultation, the Government are undertaking a review of 21 animal welfare Acts relating to captive and domestic animals with the aim of consolidating them into one Animal Welfare Act. We hope to publish a draft Bill later this year.

Asylum Seekers

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Burmese asylum seekers have been deported to Burma in each of the past three years; and what information he has received concerning the fate of those people following their repatriation.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 March 2004
	Estimates of the number of Burmese nationals who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK in the period January 2001 to September 2003 (the latest available figures) are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing 'voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, removals to a safe third country and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	
		Removals and voluntary(6) departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): January 2001 to September 2003(7) , (8) , (9)
		
			  Burma (Myanmar) 
		
		
			 2001 * 
			 2002 10 
			 January to September 2003 5 
		
	
	(6) Including persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them.
	(7) May include removals to a safe third country.
	(8) Data are estimated due to date quality issues on the IND databases.
	(9) Provisional figures.
	Note:
	Date are rounded to nearest five with * denoting 1 or 2
	Information on the destination of these removals and whether they were forcibly removed or departed voluntarily is not available, except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
	All asylum (and human rights) claims made by Burmese nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Should a claim be refused and any appeal before the independent Immigration Appellate Authority be unsuccessful, it means that for that individual it is safe to return.
	In making decisions about removing failed asylum seekers, the Home Office takes full account of up to date information from a wide range of sources about the situation in the country of origin. These sources include intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and human rights organisations (for example Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch).
	If an individual asylum seeker establishes a need for international protection they would not be returned. We do not have information on individuals returned to Burma and there would be difficulties in determining the extent to which any problems the individuals experienced could be attributed to their having been returned as failed asylum seekers.

Charities Bill

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the draft Charities Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart: The publication of a draft Charities Bill this Session was announced in the Queen's Speech and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has undertaken to publish such a Bill as soon as possible.

Cheadle Royal Hospital

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 714W, on Cheadle Royal Hospital, if he will place in the Library a copy of the reply from the Director of Operations to the hon. Member for Cheadle.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Director of Operations wrote to the hon. Member on 9 March and a copy is now available in the Library.

Cheadle Royal Hospital

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2004, Official Report, columns 714–15W, on Cheadle Royal Hospital, when the administrative arrangements for challenge and review of formal decisions of the Charity Commission were implemented.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Commission introduced administrative arrangements for challenge and review of its decisions on 1 January 2000. Full details, including published staff guidance and details of the decision reviews carried out to date, can be found on the Commission's website (www.charitycommission.gov.uk)

Cheadle Royal Hospital

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2004, Official Report, columns 714–15W, on Cheadle Royal Hospital, when the Charity Commission reported the disposals of Cheadle Royal Hospital assets to Parliament; when the reports were audited by the National Audit Office; and when the Public Accounts Committee reviewed the audited reports.

Fiona Mactaggart: I advised the hon. Member of the scrutiny arrangements for the Charity Commission in my answer of 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 715W.
	The Commission's statutory annual report on its operations made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, further to section 1(5) of the Charities Act 1993, is laid by him before Parliament. This details the Commission's activities, operations and performance against its targets for the year. It also contains details of any significant developments in the operating environment during the year as identified at the time of publication. It does not contain details of individual charities and their activities except for a small number of examples that serve to illustrate the wide range of the Commission's work as registrar and regulator of the 187,316 charities on the Central Register of Charities (as at 31 March 2003). The Commission's latest report for the financial year 2002–03 is publicly available on its website (www.charitycommission.gov.uk).
	The Commission is also required to produce a separate annual report as part of its Resource Accounts, which it prepares and publishes as required by Her Majesty's Treasury. The financial statements in the Commission's Resource Accounts are audited by the National Audit Office who may choose to refer particular aspects to the Public Accounts Committee for further inquiry. The latest Resource Accounts for 2002–03 are publicly available on the Commission's website.

Crime Statistics

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many crimes have been recorded in each constituency in Lancashire in each of the last five years, broken down by type of crime;
	(2)  how many (a) burglaries, (b) car thefts, (c) acts of vandalism, (d) muggings, (e) rapes and (f) violent attacks were reported in Chorley constituency in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in a table that has been placed in the Library.
	Figures for crimes recorded by the police are not broken down by constituency areas. However, they are available at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) level. There are currently fourteen CDRPs in Lancashire, including Chorley. CDRPs broadly equate to Local Authority areas, and financial year figures are available for 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	Figures for recorded crime offences are available at CDRP level for six key offences groups only: violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary in a dwelling, theft of a motor vehicle, and theft from a vehicle.
	The number of offences recorded may have been affected by the adoption of the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS). The NCRS was officially implemented across England and Wales in April 2002. Lancashire police adopted the Standard prior to this, in August 2000. The NCRS has particularly impacted in violent crime offences. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not directly comparable with previous years.

Criminal Assets

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 899W, on criminal assets, what proportion of (a) cash seizures, (b) confiscation orders, (c) restraint orders and (d) freezing orders made to date were related to drug offences; what proportion of the money which has been successfully recovered to date has been allocated to (A) crime reduction projects and (B) central Treasury funds; and how he plans to allocate amounts seized in future.

Caroline Flint: The information in relation to cash seizures is not available. I understand from the Crown Prosecution Service that 85 per cent. of confiscation orders and 44 per cent. of restraint orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 related to drug offences. I understand from the Assets Recovery Agency that 57 per cent. of the freezing orders related to drug offences.
	All receipts from recovered assets are allocated to a range of initiatives in the asset recovery field. A new police incentivisation scheme will be introduced in 2004–05 that will enable police forces to receive a share of the criminal assets that are recovered locally. Police forces will benefit by receiving a third of all the recovered assets above £40 million in 2004–05, increasing to a half for 2005–06. The maximum benefit available to the police will be £43 million in 2004–05 rising to £65 million in 2005–06. The Government will be using the first £40 million to help fund existing commitments in the asset recovery field.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) effectiveness of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Cases Review Commission acts as a safety net to the Criminal Justice System. I commend the hard work of its Chairman, Members and staff in establishing the Commission as an authoritative and respected body. The Commission has established a high reputation for its decision making, for impartiality, openness and thoroughness and has won the confidence of the public, the legal profession and related pressure groups.
	Two thirds of the Commission's referrals have lead to quashed convictions or reduced sentences.
	The Commission will be able to analyse the legal and investigative issues that still commonly arise in miscarriages of justice. The Commission will be able to provide advice to other stakeholders and agencies within the criminal justice system on actions that could help to minimise their incidence. The Commission's main priority, however, is to deal with its case accumulation, minimising the waiting time for applicants particularly those in custody. With additional funding, the Commission has made a considerable reduction in the number of cases awaiting a review from the 1999 peak. I have every confidence that the Commission will continue to make good progress towards this goal despite the recent unexpected rise in the number of applications.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received representations from people concerned about (a) a body of expert evidence and (b) particular investigative methods and subsequently investigated these concerns.

Paul Goggins: A large number of applications to the Commission have raised concerns over expert evidence and investigative methods. Such concerns when raised are considered and if necessary investigated further. Finding the precise number of such cases would involve a search of over 6, 500 records, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his consultation with the Criminal Cases Review Commission regarding extension of its powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995.

Paul Goggins: Home Office officials met most recently with the Criminal Cases Review Commission on 4 February 2004 to discuss further their proposals for extending their powers under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. The proposals involve the complex issue of third party disclosure and are still under active consideration.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will provide the Criminal Cases Review Commission with additional resources in order for it to (a) review and (b) research non-referred cases.

Paul Goggins: At the present time it would be inappropriate to distract the Criminal Cases Review Commission from its main goal of minimising case accumulation.

Criminal Records Bureau

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau checks were outstanding at the most recent date for which information is available for (a) less than four weeks, (b) four to six weeks, (c) six to 12 weeks, (d) 12 to 26 weeks and (e) more than 26 weeks; and what steps are being taken to reduce delays in responding.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The information that the hon. Member for Isle of Wight has asked for on the number of outstanding checks broken down in the manner requested is not available from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) systems.
	A weekly report is produced by the CRB to establish the number of outstanding applications held within the computer system. This report displays applications that have been outstanding from one week to six weeks. These figures are broken down further to show the number of applications that have been with the CRB from 0-four weeks, four-six weeks and over six weeks.
	As at 29 February 2004, the CRB has a total of 105,218 applications awaiting completion.
	Of these applications:
	97,756 are less than four-weeks-old
	5,901 are four to six-weeks-old
	1,561 are over six-weeks-old
	The number of applications awaiting completion over six weeks, approximately 1.5 per cent. of the overall total, falls well within the 5 per cent. tolerance, as stipulated in our Public Service Standard.
	The CRB continues to monitor its performance and implement measures aimed at minimising backlogs and streamlining the Disclosure process. These measures have included:
	consulting Registered Bodies on how to encompass greater responsibility within their role, enabling speedier authentication of Disclosure applicants;
	minimising data quality errors by providing advice and assistance to applicants and Counter signatories on completing the application form;
	replacing our previous manually produced Fastrack system with an automated process;
	providing additional resources to specific areas of concern.
	For example, five members of CRB staff have been seconded to alleviate backlogs at Local Police Forces.

Criminal Records Bureau

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what identity verification processes were incorporated into the contract specification at the time that the Criminal Records Bureau let the contract to Capita; what identity verification processes are being used; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what information sources are used by the Criminal Records Bureau in verifying postal addresses; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what sources of data he has directed that the Criminal Records Bureau should use in conducting identity verification processes.

Hazel Blears: The initial contract with Capita, which envisaged the majority of applications being made via the telephone, included an on-line identity check using Experian's on-line system. This was deemed to be the most efficient method as an applicant could be asked for sufficient information to "pass" the check while making the application via the call centre.
	The subsequent introduction of the paper application channel, which now accounts for 87 per cent. of all applications made this route unviable as specific questions aimed at obtaining a pass score cannot be asked on a paper application form.
	In line with the recommendation of the Independent Review Team appointed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in September 2002 powers have been taken in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to make Registered Bodies solely responsible for identity and address verification. The CRB issues guidance to Registered Bodies showing the type of documentation a Registered Body should use to verify name and address. The CRB Code of Practice requires Registered Bodies to check documents contained in this list
	The CRB does use "postcode look up" to verify that an address exists but does not carry out any further address checks. The revised contract with Capita reflects this.

Custody Suites (Cornwall)

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many custody suite facilities are available in Cornwall; and what plans he has for additional custody suites.

Hazel Blears: There is currently one designated custody suite operating in Cornwall. This is at Camborne police station, which has 25 cells. However, St Austell police station, which has eight cells and is not designated as a custody suite, is currently being used as a temporary option while the 11 cells at Newquay police station are undergoing extensive refurbishment. When Newquay reopens in May this year, St Austell police station will no longer be used as a custody suite. Planners are currently considering the designs for a new custody suite at Launceton and subject to planning consent, this will be open in 2005 and will provide an additional 21 cells. There are other cells available in police stations across Cornwall that are not part of custody suite facilities.

Firearms

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up a working group to review the Firearms Rules 1998.

Caroline Flint: Any review of the Firearms Rules 1998 would be largely consequential on the outcome of the review we are undertaking of the principal legislation. Certain aspects of the Rules are, however, currently being looked at by a group of practitioners on which the police and shooting organisations are represented.

Historical Abuse Appeal Panel

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) work and (b) findings of the Historical Abuse Appeal Panel, established by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Paul Goggins: The Historical Abuse Appeal Panel was not established by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It was created by a specialist group of lawyers. The Commission is working with the Panel on a number of applications that involve convictions for child sex abuse in care homes.

Immigration Appeals

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration appeal cases processed by the Appeals Processing Centre are awaiting despatch to the Immigration Appellate Authority.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 March 2004
	Figures at the end of February showed that there were approximately 2,000 entry clearance cases and 2,000 in country immigration cases which had been processed by the Appeals Processing Centre and were awaiting despatch to the Immigration Appellate Authority.

Computer Misuse Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ask the Sentencing Guidelines Council to frame guidelines in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Caroline Flint: The Sentencing Guidelines Council was created by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and has a key role to play in improving consistency in sentencing. It will in due course consider guidelines in respect of all criminal offences.

Computer Misuse Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent (a) representations he has received and (b) discussions he has had regarding (i) judicial awareness of and (ii) sentencing guidelines in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We have not received any representations nor had any discussions with the judiciary in relation to the Computer Misuse Act 1990. However, changes will be made to section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to increase the penalty threshold, to allow for the effective punishment of all acts undertaken by hackers and others in committing this offence. This and other changes to the Act will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

Offender Management

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to produce a project initiation document in respect of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: Establishing the National Offender Management Service will include a number of projects. Those individual projects will follow standard government project management procedures.

Offender Management

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the management of the female prison estate under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.

Paul Goggins: The structure of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is yet to be finalised. The implementation team are considering a range of issues including the management of the female prison estate within NOMS.

Offender Management

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish a project initiation document in respect of the National Offender Management Service; when he intends to appoint a project manager; and what the delivery date will be.

Paul Goggins: Establishing the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will include a number of projects. Those individual projects will follow standard government project management procedures.
	Eithne Wallis, former Director General of the National Probation Service, was appointed as change manager on 6 January. She is responsible for the implementation of the National Offender Management Service. A Programme Team to assist with the development of NOMS is being assembled. The National Offender Management Service will come into being on 1 June 2004 and it is anticipated that it will have become fully functional by 2008–09.

Offender Management

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with (a) employees and trade unions and (b) hon. Members about the new National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The document "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" sets out the Governments initial response to the review of correctional services carried out by Patrick Carter.
	The Home Secretary continues to seek views from key stakeholders on a number of issues raised in that document relating to the effective management of offenders. We are currently considering initial responses.

Prisons

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers left prison service employment within (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years of becoming an officer in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Between 1 August 2000 and 31 December 2003, 4,763 new prison officers were recruited (including existing staff who converted to the prison officer grade).
	Information on the number of prison officers who left the service in this period during their first two years of service is given in the table. The figures include resignations and dismissals.
	
		
			  Left within six months of appointment Left between six and 1 2 months of appointment Left between one and two years of appointment 
		
		
			 August to December 2000 11 12 24 
			 2001 21 25 82 
			 2002 46 25 36 
			 2003 87 77 63 
		
	
	Information is not held centrally for staff that left the Service prior to August 2000 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the (a) certified normal accommodation and (b) number of prisoners held in each prison establishment was on 31 December for each of the past five years;
	(2)  what new accommodation has been provided at each prison establishment in each of the last five years; and how this new accommodation has affected the certified normal accommodation of each establishment.

Paul Goggins: The Certified Normal Accommodation and total population of each prison in England and Wales on 31 December of each of the past five years will be placed in the Library.

Quashed Convictions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many quashed convictions arose from the work of (a) the Criminal Cases Review Commission between 1997 and 2003 and (b) the comparable Home Office unit in the period between 1991 and 1997; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for differences between the two figures.

Paul Goggins: By 31 March 2003, referrals from the Criminal Cases Review Commission had resulted in 77 convictions being quashed.
	Between January 1991 and March 1997, 54 convictions that had been referred to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary were quashed (this includes one case where only two of several counts were overturned).
	The Criminal Appeal Act 1995 introduced changes that make a direct comparison impossible. The major difference was the introduction of a court appeal process for summary offences. As the Home Secretary could refer only convictions for indictable offences in England and Wales back to the Court of Appeal, C3 Division of Criminal Department's work also included considering the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy to free applicants from the consequences of wrongful conviction for summary offences. The Commission's 77 convictions quashed include six from Northern Ireland. The Commission has greater powers to obtain documents etc. than the Secretary of State had, and has more staff than were available in C3 Division.

Racial Harassment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers preventing racial harassment have been introduced since 1997; and how many times these powers have been used in Crosby.

Fiona Mactaggart: Prior to 1997 the Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976 already prohibited discrimination on racial grounds. The RRA did not specifically refer to harassment, but it was clear from case law that racial harassment was a type of detriment capable of amounting to the kind of less favourable treatment prohibited by the Act.
	As part of its fulfilment of its obligations under the EC Race Directive the UK amended the Race Relations Act 1976 (by virtue of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003) so as to make it unlawful to harass a person, on grounds of race or ethnic or national origins, in the areas of activity covered by the 1976 Act.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created new and separate offences where the offences of causing fear and violence or of causing harassment, alarm or distress under the Public Order Act 1986, or the offences of harassment or putting in fear of violence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were racially aggravated.
	Figures for the number of prosecutions in Crosby for this type of offence are not centrally available. Merseyside Police figures for racially aggravated harassment offences (published by the Home Office under the requirements of S95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991) show a total of 434 recorded offences of this type over the period 1999/2000 to 2001/02.

Shooting

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about excessive noise from gunfire by clay pigeon shooters; and if he will require clay pigeon shooters to attach silencers to their guns.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has not received any recent representations on excessive noise from gunfire by clay pigeon shooters. There are no plans to require clay pigeon shooters to attach silencers to their guns.

Shooting

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on responsible and safe shooting sports conducted in accordance with the law.

Caroline Flint: The Government believe that shooting should be done in a responsible and safe way and in accordance with the law.

Shooting

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation; and what was discussed.

Caroline Flint: I met representatives of the Association on 8 September 2003 to discuss their concerns about the firearms related provisions in what is now the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Special Constables

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to support the recruitment of special constables.

Hazel Blears: We are determined to boost Special's numbers as a central component of our reform agenda geared towards re-energising volunteering within neighbourhood policing.
	We launched a £2.5 million advertising campaign in February to raise the awareness about Specials and their voluntary work. There has been a significant increase in expressions of interest in the Specials with, for example, calls to the recruitment hotline leaping from around 60 in the week before the TV ad first aired, to over 1,800 in the week of the 23 February.
	The campaign was also timed to coincide with the second annual "National special Weekend" held on the 28–29 February, with all 43 Forces in England and Wales working to raise Specials' profile and to focus on local recruitment and employer support initiatives.
	These measures are part of a wider initiative to increase Specials Number and effectiveness, which has also seen all 43 police Forces awarded a share of £2.75 million "Capacity building" funding to help develop and improve Specials' recruitment, management and retention. We hope that by 2006/07 another 3,000 Specials will have been recruited through wider public awareness and better management and communication by Forces.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Betting

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has for regulating betting exchange.

Richard Caborn: The draft Gambling Bill now being scrutinised by a Committee of both Houses includes a number of proposals for the better regulation of betting exchanges.

Computer Misuse

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cases of computer misuse there were in her Department in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003, broken down by category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Richard Caborn: There were no cases of computer misuse in DCMS in either 1997 or 2003.

Grants (Religious Buildings)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the future of conservation and restoration grants to (a) English cathedrals, (b) English parish churches and (c) other religious buildings.

Richard Caborn: The Government channel their funding for the built historic environment through English Heritage, which is the largest source of non-Lottery grant funding for listed cathedrals and churches in England.
	English Heritage runs a Cathedral Repairs Grant Scheme for Church of England and Roman Catholic Cathedrals which are listed grade I or II* and/or are situated within a conservation area. A budget of £2 million was made available for this scheme in financial year 2003–04 to assist with urgent repairs to high-level roofs and masonry to keep the cathedral building structurally stable and weather-tight. Grant offers have already been made under this scheme against a budget of £2 million for 2004–05. Following a review of all its grant schemes, and now that the majority of big repair projects to cathedrals in England have been completed, English Heritage has earmarked a budget of £3 million for this scheme in 2005–2008.
	Together with the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage funds the Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England 2002–05, which welcomes applications from all faith groups and denominations, both Christian and non-Christian, provided they are formally constituted religious organisations. £30 million was made available in financial year 2003–04 for grants for urgent repairs to listed places of worship in regular use. This scheme has benefited a large number of parish churches in England.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport administers the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, an interim scheme introduced in the 2001 Budget, which has returned in grant aid the difference between five per cent and the actual amount of Value Added Tax (VAT) paid on eligible repairs and maintenance. In his Budget announcement on 17 March 2004, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that claims for all eligible works carried out on and after 1 April 2004 will receive grant payments under the scheme to cover the full amount of VAT paid. Unless a permanent VAT reduced rate is achieved in the meantime as part of negotiations on a review of the EU rules governing VAT reduced rates, this scheme will continue until 31 March 2006. Listed places of worship belonging to all formally constituted religious organisations are eligible to apply to the scheme. Around 4,500 listed places of worship throughout the United Kingdom have so far benefited from the scheme, which has paid out over £18 million.

National Lottery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Lottery funding has been spent on (a) health, (b) education and (c) environmental projects; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: One third of Lottery money for good causes is distributed by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), which makes grants to health, education and environment projects. Of the money distributed by NOF, the approximate breakdown between health, education and environment projects as at February 2004 was as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of overall committed funding Percentage of overall payments (i.e. spend) 
		
		
			 Health 29 22 
			 Education 57 65 
			 Environment 14 13 
		
	
	Data on grants made by other National Lottery distributors to projects with a health, education and environment dimension are not collected.

Sporting Contacts (Ban)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether on 28 October 1997 Ministers had the power to invoke a ban on sporting contacts with other countries.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 18 March 2004
	In October 1997, as now, the power existed to use visa controls to deny anyone entry from countries whose nationals require visas to visit the UK, including sports people where appropriate.

Television Ownership

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2004, Official Report, columns 57–8W, on television ownership, what estimates her Department has made of the number of United Kingdom households that do not own a television in each of the last 10 years.

Estelle Morris: The estimated number of households without a television in the United Kingdom in each of the last ten years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 March Thousands of households(10) , (11) 
		
		
			 1994 646 
			 1995 662 
			 1996 692(12) 
			 1997 664 
			 1998 646 
			 1999 641 
			 2000 625 
			 2001 599 
			 2002 544 
			 2003 515 
		
	
	(10) Based on data from the British Audience Research Board and from official estimates of numbers of Households
	(11) Revisions to data prior to 2001 are expected as official household estimates for these years are to be revised.
	(12) The higher figure in 1996 may not be reliable. Since the percentage of households not owning a television is small, the survey measuring this is inevitably prone to the incidence of sampling variation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the refugee situation in (a) Zhare Dasht, (b) other camps within Afghanistan and (c) camps set up in Pakistan by refugees fleeing Afghanistan; and what support the UK is providing to (i) NGOs and (ii) the United Nations Refugee Agency to address the refugee problem.

Hilary Benn: DFID provided over £9 million funding to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) 2003 Afghanistan appeals. UNHCR and WFP have contracted local and international Non-Governmental Organisations to help provide basic health care, education, food and water in the refugee camps.
	Refugees are now returning home. Recently, community leaders from refugee camps inside Afghanistan issued a written statement that they felt conditions in the North have now improved sufficiently for refugees to return. As a result, 30 families (118 individuals) from the Zahre Dasht camp returned to Farayab province on 21 March. UNHCR jointly facilitated the return and provided shelter, income generation opportunities and water to vulnerable returnees in their areas of origin.
	From a high of one million refugees living inside Afghanistan in 2001, there are now fewer than 200,000. Similarly, over three million refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran.

Brazil/Bolivia

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has allocated to UK non-governmental organisations this year for work in (a) Brazil and (b) Bolivia; how this sum is expected to change in real terms in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Under DFID's Civil Society Challenge Fund, the value of firm offers of support to UK NGOs for specific activities in Brazil and Bolivia in 2004–05 is £204,204.00 and £336,730.00 respectively. In addition, £454,589.00 has been provisionally allocated for regional projects, including possible interventions in Brazil and Bolivia. Future offers of support will depend on the numbers and quality of proposals submitted by civil society organisations.
	In September 2003, £28,904.00 was provided to Helpage International through the Latin America bilateral programme in support of activities to be undertaken between September 2003 and August 2004 in Bolivia.
	DFID will also be providing £61 million in strategic support in 2004–05 to 19 major UK based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the form of global Partnership Programme Agreements (PPA). A number of these organisations currently support activities in Bolivia and Brazil. From 2005–06, DFID is proposing to increase partnership funding, to include PPA and NGO's working in middle-income countries and Latin America in particular.

Brazil/Bolivia

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which UK non-governmental organisations funded by his Department carry out work in (a) Brazil and (b) Bolivia.

Hilary Benn: The UK Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) funded by DFID, which have programmes in Brazil and Bolivia, are shown in the following list:
	Brazil
	Action Aid
	CAFOD
	CARE International
	Childhope
	Christian Aid
	Concern Universal
	Everychild
	International Service
	Leprosy Relief Association (LEPRA)
	OXFAM
	Save the Children Fund
	War on Want
	WWF
	Bolivia
	Action Aid
	CAFOD
	CARE International
	Christian Aid
	Helpage International
	Homeless International
	International Service
	Intermediate Technology for Development Group (ITDG)
	Marie Stopes International
	OXFAM
	Plan International
	Save the Children Fund
	WWF

Drinking Water Wells

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EU project to dig 50 wells for drinking water; how many of these have been completed; and what steps are being taken to reclaim funds misappropriated in relation to this project.

Hilary Benn: The "Ysaka" project was approved and started in 2000, and implementation was delegated to a Management Unit led by two co-directors (one European and one Paraguayan). Seven wells have been completed to date. Up to December 2002, the European Commission had disbursed a total of 3.2 million euro to this project.
	Serious financial anomalies were uncovered in January by the Commission's annual audit for the period of 1 January to 31 December 2002. The two co-directors were dismissed immediately and supervision of the project was transferred directly to the European Commission's delegation to Paraguay. The Commission's anti-fraud unit is currently conducting an investigation that will seek to recoup missing funds. In the meantime the Government of Paraguay have filed a criminal complaint against the two co-directors. DFID and the Foreign Office will continue to monitor the situation.
	DFID does not have a bilateral assistance programme for Paraguay.

Energy Systems

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how he plans to develop renewable energy supplies within broader sustainable development and poverty reduction programmes;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to enable developing countries to have equal access to upfront funding for renewable and conventional energy systems.

Hilary Benn: Over the past 10 years, DFID has funded about £3.6 million of applied research on renewable energy, covering all the main renewable energy technologies, about half of this in the last four years.
	We recognise the importance of access to affordable and reliable energy services to economic growth and development, drawing on the full range of appropriate technology options, including renewable energy. This was a key outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and was included among the range of actions needed to reduce poverty.
	As a follow-up to the WSSD, DFID is working with several international networks to promote improved access to energy services, including the Global Village Energy Partnership and the EU Energy Initiative. These programmes involve dialogue with developing countries about their energy needs in support of their poverty reduction objectives. Most countries possess a range of indigenous natural resources that may help meet requirements such cooking, heating, lighting and water pumping. Where they are practical and financially feasible, renewable energy resources may have an important role to play.
	In addition, DFID is taking a lead role in discussions with the World Bank about increasing the share of renewable energy in meeting the energy needs of developing countries, wherever this is feasible and financially viable.

EU Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the EU's (a) humanitarian assistance and (b) international development assistance budget was in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The following table, sets out the European Commission's humanitarian and official development assistance spend over the last five years for which this information is available.
	
		European Commission Disbursements to All Developing Countries ($ M)
		
			  Total Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) Emergency Aid 
		
		
			 2002 6263 510 
			 2001 5517 526 
			 2000 4414 519 
			 1999 4911 677 
			 1998 5124 501 
		
	
	Source:
	Development Assistance Committee, Destination of Official Development Assistance and Official Aid—Disbursements (Table 2a)

Food Aid

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much customs levy the Government paid on food aid given to developing countries in 2003–04.

Hilary Benn: As import or customs duties represent an additional cost that would reduce the overall amount of development assistance provided, all UK development assistance is conditional on being free of all import or customs duties. Food aid provided by the Department for International Development is given as cash only in response to specific appeals so would not attract customs duties.
	In 2002–03 DFID provided food aid to the value of £65 million.
	In 2004 the EC provision for food aid is 419 million euro of which the UK share is 19 per cent. EC regulations stipulate this is also free of import or customs duties.

Guatemala

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent of child labour in Guatemala.

Hilary Benn: Child labour is a significant problem in Guatemala with estimates of the number ranging from 550,000 to 900,000. The Government of Guatemala have ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, which call for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, the rehabilitation of child labourers, and the prevention of child labour. They have also pledged to create a commission to examine the requirement for new regulations and the enforcement of existing labour legislation, but they face many constraints in putting these commitments fully in to effect. DFID will continue to monitor the Government of Guatemala's progress in doing so.
	The International Programme for the Elimination of Child Poverty (IPEC) programme of the ILO is active in Guatemala. The programme focuses on child labour in eight sectors including coffee and broccoli cultivation and firework production.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the war in Iraq has affected progress towards the Millennium Development Goals of (a) halving by 2015 the number of people in Iraq who suffer from hunger, (b) halving by 2015 the number of people in Iraq without sustainable access to safe drinking water, (c) improving the mortality rate for children under five in Iraq, (d) achieving gender equality in primary education in Iraq and (e) moving towards universal youth literacy in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Under Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq was moving away from the Millennium Development Goals. The provision of health care, education and essential services declined significantly between the 1980s and 2003. Iraq's position on the Human development Index fell from 76th in 1990 to 126th in 2000.
	Following Saddam's overthrow, the international community pledged $32 billion in assistance for 2004–2007 at the Madrid Donors' Conference last October. A significant proportion of this finance will be invested in health, education and essential services including water supply and sanitation. Consideration is also being given to reducing Iraq's unsustainable external debt. This support, together with Iraq's considerable natural and human resources, should enable the country to move quickly towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals in the coming years.
	Statistics are not available on progress over the last year on the specific Goals referred to in the question.

Malaria

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to tackle malaria in sub-saharan Africa.

Hilary Benn: Great progress was made in reducing malarial mortality in the 1970s and 1980s, yet many parts of Africa are now seeing an increase in the number of deaths from malaria. A key cause is the increase in the resistance to anti-malarial drugs and the lack of affordable alternatives. In addition the capacity of health systems in sub Saharan Africa is often inadequate to respond effectively to malaria. Nonetheless, malaria remains a disease that is preventable, treatable and curable.
	Since 1998 the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided in excess of £110 million to support malaria control activities globally and at country level. At the global level this include support to Roll Back Malaria; support to the Medical Research Council; support to the Malaria Consortium Resource Centre; and initiatives to help find new low-cost malaria treatments. DFID has committed US$ 280 million over seven years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). The GFATM will fund distribution of insecticide impregnated bednets and appropriate ant-malarial medication.
	DFID also supports malaria control activities at country-level through our bilateral county programmes, either through direct support to the health sector or through general budget support. DFID is committed to supporting national Governments and their partners to help ensure that effective drugs and commodities, including effective anti-malarial drugs, are accessible to the poor. Since 1997, DFID has committed £1.5 billion to strengthen health systems to deliver vital drugs and health care treatment.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The information for all years from 1996–97 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of press officers Annual Cost (£000) 
		
		
			 1996–97 6 195 
			 1997–98 6 243 
			 1998–99 4 240 
			 1999–2000 3.3 100 
			 2000–01 4.5 150 
			 2001–02 4 148 
			 2002–03 5 191 
			 2003–04 6 230 
		
	
	Information for 1990–95 is not centrally available and could not be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many search and rescue dogs based in the UK are available to attend disasters.

Hilary Benn: There are twelve collapsed structure search and rescue dogs that are registered with the National Search and Rescue dog group of which two are presently quarantined following their deployment to the Bam earthquake and two are being kept in Spain.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Department made available for the provision of search and rescue dogs in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The provision of search and rescue dogs is managed and supported by the non-governmental organisations themselves that comprise the National Search and Rescue dog group. DFID meets the costs of their deployment and return when the dogs are used overseas as part of a United Kingdom response to natural disasters such as earthquakes. It is not possible to disaggregate the deployment costs of the dogs as they are one part of a larger search and rescue effort and immediate response that usually also includes the delivery of other relief items by the same chartered aircraft.

Water

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will increase resources made available for water management in Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID's overall aim is to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development, in particular through achieving the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our goal in the water sector is to enable poor people to lead healthier and more productive lives by helping to increase and sustain their access to safe drinking water supply and appropriate sanitation.
	The UK has worked hard to improve aid effectiveness by untying aid, focusing support on strategies drawn up by developing countries themselves, harmonising our assistance with other donors, and the use of new means of aid, such as direct budget support. More effective use of aid therefore, means moving away from donors allocating funding to selected sectors or to donor-led projects, and moving towards providing support that is consistent with national poverty reduction strategies. For this reason, DFID budgets according to regions and countries, and allows country programmes to determine priorities according to national plans.
	DFID's strategy for water and sanitation is therefore aimed at seeking to ensure that water and sanitation issues are given the right level of priority within developing countries' plans although evidence suggests that this is not always the case. It is for this reason that DFID has recently published a Water Action Plan, which sets out how we intend to take this work forward. The Plan sets out what needs to be done at the national, regional and international level. The key elements are: making sure water and sanitation issues figure prominently in policy discussions with our main partner countries in their reform agendas; providing evidence of the links between improved water management, water supply and sanitation and achieving all the MDGs, and ensuring that we are making use of this evidence in our policy dialogue; improving the way the international system works, by focusing support on key international partnerships and networks, particularly those that can improve co- ordination in the water sector.
	The next step will be to put the plan into operation.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

New Entrepreneur Scholarship

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have benefited from the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme since its creation.

Ivan Lewis: 40 scholars participated in the initial pilots in 2000/01 (in Greenwich, Manchester and Cornwall) of whom 75 per cent. completed. 850 scholars participated in the national pilot during 2001/02 and 2002/03 of whom 85 per cent. completed. Following the success of the pilots the programme has been extended until at least 2006/07. 1,147 scholars have been recruited to the programme in 2003/04 with an expected completion rate of 90 per cent.

"Funding of a Better Future"

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Association of London Government about the Funding of a Better Future report.

David Miliband: I wrote to Sir Robin Wales on 18 November 2003 to thank him for sending me a copy of the Funding a Better Future report. In my reply I noted the work being done to ensure London schools receive maximum benefit from all available sources of funding, and welcomed his views on how best to ensure the coherence of funding streams relating to the Extended Schools initiative. Officials meet regularly with the Association of London Government to discuss a range of issues, including funding for London schools, in the context of the London Challenge Programme.

Education

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire local education authority left school with no qualifications in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Information on pupils leaving school is not available, however, the percentage of 15-year-old pupils that failed to achieve a pass at GCSE or GNVQ are detailed in the following table:
	
		Percentage of 15 year old pupils(13) achieving no passes at GCSE/GNVQ
		
			 Academic year North East Lincolnshire NorthLincolnshire 
		
		
			 1997 10.9 5.5 
			 1998 10.1 3.9 
			 1999 7.8 3.7 
			 2000 6.7 3.0 
			 2001 5.0 2.7 
			 2002 5.5 2.9 
			 2003 6.4 3.6 
		
	
	(13) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August.

Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Stroud in each of the last seven years for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants employed in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools in Stroud constituency for each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 100 
			 1998 101 
			 1999 122 
			 2000 120 
			 2001 144 
			 2002 167 
			 2003 165 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of pupils in Stroud reached the (a) mathematics and (b) English standard in each of the last seven years;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of 11-year old pupils in Stroud reached level four in (a) mathematics and (b) English in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The results from the 2003 National Curriculum tests showed that 75 per cent. of 11-year-olds in England reached Level 4 in English and 73 per cent. in mathematics. These results represent a significant improvement in standards—of 12 percentage points in English and 11 percentage points in mathematics—since 1997, reflecting the impact of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies on primary schools. We remain absolutely committed, through our new Primary Strategy, to supporting schools to achieve the ambitious targets we have set for standards of literacy and numeracy.
	The following table shows the number and percentage of pupils in Stroud who have achieved level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests since 1997. The results for Stroud are above the national average, with improvements since 1997:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 English—Number of pupils 870 899 972 1,069 1,118 1,134 1,048 
			 Mathematics—Number of pupils 830 794 939 1,050 1,056 1,120 1,066 
			 English—Percentage of pupils 70 72 76 79 82 82 80 
			 Mathematics—Percentage of pupils 66 64 73 77 77 81 81 
		
	
	Note:
	The number of eligible pupils for the Key Stage 2 tests varies slightly from year to year.

Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 15 and 16 year-olds in Stroud achieved five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C or GNVQ in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		Percentage of 15 year old pupils(14) achieving 5 or more GCSE/GNVQ grades A*–C -- Percentage
		
			 Academic Year Stroud Parliamentary Constituency England 
		
		
			 1997 55.6 45.1 
			 1998 60.1 46.3 
			 1999 60.5 47.9 
			 2000 61.3 49.2 
			 2001 61.0 50.0 
			 2002 62.9 51 .6 
			 2003 65.5 52.9 
		
	
	(14) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August

Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 16–19 year olds in Stroud achieved two A level passes or equivalent in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Number achieving As percentage of candidates 
		
		
			 1997 351 76.0 
			 1998 475 83.2 
			 1999 469 88.2 
			 2000 450 90.9 
			 2001 465 93.4 
			 2002 430 81.4 
			 2003 452 88.5 
		
	
	(15) Age at beginning of academic year.
	(16) VCE qualifications included in 2002 and 2003; Advanced GNVQ included in 1997–2001.

Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on education in Chorley in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Chorley is a district of Lancashire local education authority. The information for Lancashire LEA is as follows:
	
		Net current expenditure
		
			  Pre-primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education Secondary education Special schools School spend Total spend 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 237,669,000 202,690,000 42,144,000 482,503,000 583,921,000 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 239,587,000 207,231,000 46,585,000 493,403,000 590,313,000 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 242,399,000 211,885,000 49,958,000 504,242,000 600,316,000 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 209,279,000 179,286,000 38,631,000 427,196,000 507,425,000 
			 1999–00 9,613,898 216,716,058 226,329,956 204,223,737 40,707,605 471,261,298 523,276,325 
			 2000–01 14,411,530 235,524,422 249,935,952 217,880,659 41,733,773 509,550,384 547,388,079 
			 2001–02 20,261,713 262,169,780 282,431,493 243,372,041 46,335,280 572,138,814 599,945,957 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Lancashire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's R01 statement prior to then.
	2. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	3. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	4. School spend includes net current expenditure on pre-primary education, primary education, secondary education and special schools.
	5. Total spend includes school spend plus net current expenditure on education out of school, continuing education and management and support.
	6. 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 figures are for Lancashire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1998–99 onwards parts of Lancashire LEA became Blackburn LEA and Blackpool LEA.
	7. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.
	8. Figures used are quoted in cash terms and are as reported by the LEA.

Education Funding

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on education in Buckinghamshire in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		Net current expenditure -- £
		
			  Pre-Primary Education Primary Education Pre-Primary and Primary Education Secondary Education Special Schools School Spend Total Spend 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 108,607,000 72,799,000 21,307,000 202,713,000 249,923,000 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 112,070,000 73,504,000 22,543,000 208,117,000 254,977,000 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 74,879,000 59,002,000 16,905,000 150,786,000 183,122,000 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 77,251,000 62,331,000 17,502,000 157,084,000 187,327,000 
			 1999–2000 2,961,537 81,370,766 84,332,303 86,700,327 14,676,470 185,709,100 209,350,972 
			 2000–01 3,340,949 88,619,682 91,960,631 100,166,066 20,763,485 212,890,182 222,923,306 
			 2001–02 4,597,617 95,433,818 100,031,435 111,692,694 26,257,833 237,981,962 245,130,302 
		
	
	Note:
	1. The financial data are taken from Buckinghamshire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously.
	2. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	3. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	4. School spend includes net current expenditure on pre-primary education, primary education, secondary education and special schools.
	5. Total spend includes school spend plus net current expenditure on education out of school, continuing education and management and support.
	6. 1995–96 and 1996–97 figures are for Buckinghamshire LEA prior to local government re-organisation. From 1997–98 onwards part of Buckinghamshire LEA moved into Milton Keynes LEA.
	7. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.

Education Funding

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Staffordshire in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		Net current expenditure per pupil
		
			  Pre-primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education Secondary education Special schools 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 1,603 2,198 9,305 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 1,664 2,286 9,634 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 1,653 2,291 9,809 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 1,800 2,383 10,142 
			 1999–2000 6,119 1,972 1,998 2,562 11,409 
			 2000–01 9,331 2,198 2,243 2,783 12,428 
			 2001–02 16,734 2,424 2,509 3,079 14,245 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Staffordshire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously.
	2. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	4. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	5. The NCE per pupil figures for pre-primary and primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the pre-primary sector and maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained nursery and primary schools sector.
	6. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.
	7. The NCE per pupil figures for special schools relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained special schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained special schools sector.
	8. 1995–96 and 1996–97 figures are for Staffordshire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1997–98 onwards part of Staffordshire LEA became Stoke-on Trent LEA.
	9. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.

Education/Training (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding was made available for adult learning in further education colleges in Greater London in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC decides on allocations at individual college and regional level. Information about these allocations is not collected by the Department. This is a matter for the LSC. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Education/Training (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training there were in Greater London in each month since the Connexions service was established, broken down by borough.

Margaret Hodge: The number of 16–18 year olds in the five London Connexions Partnerships known not to be in education, employment or training (NEET) in each month since the Connexions Service was established is shown in the following table. Information at borough level is not available.
	
		Number of 16–18 year olds known by the Connexions Service not to be in education, employment or training (NEET)
		
			  Central London East London North London South London West London 
		
		
			 2001–02  
			 April - - *N/A 3,877 - 
			 May - - *N/A 3,856  
			 June - - 2,497 3,672 - 
			 July - - 2,514 3,675 - 
			 August - - 2,577 3,724 - 
			 September - - 2,824 4,107 - 
			 October - - 2,955 4,278 - 
			 November - - 3,071 4,338 - 
			 December - - 3,056 4,389 - 
			 January - - 2,896 4,356 - 
			 February - - 2,896 4,371 - 
			 March - - 2,841 4,343 - 
			 2002–03  
			 April - 5,409 2,539 3,117 - 
			 May - 5,441 2,542 2,999 - 
			 June 3,664 5,252 2,542 2,893 - 
			 July 3,576 5,292 2,551 2,752 - 
			 August 3,545 5,069 2,549 2,663 - 
			 September 4,309 6,315 2,787 2,950 3,441 
			 October 4,501 6,650 2,918 2,977 3,559 
			 November 4,625 7,004 3,144 3,079 3,778 
			 December 4,541 6,849 3,060 2,890 3,826 
			 January 4,605 6,598 3,263 2,755 3,822 
			 February 4,581 6,595 3,185 2,616 3,747 
			 March 4,387 6,476 3,100 2,521 3,711 
			 2003–04  
			 April 3,109 4,708 1,654 1,447 3,136 
			 May 2,932 4,620 1,544 1,499 2,947 
			 June 2,156 4,822 1,554 1,453 2,025 
			 July 2,165 5,037 1,630 1,450 2,100 
			 August 1,998 5,077 1,636 1,429 1,857 
			 September 2,575 6,098 2,213 2,012 2,553 
			 October 3,073 6,207 2,311 2,201 2,680 
			 November 3,596 7,213 2,418 2,069 2,964 
			 December 3,350 6,964 2,240 1,965 2,550 
		
	
	Notes
	(i) Connexions Partnerships were rolled out over two years commencing April 2001. North London and South London started in April 2001, East London in April 2002, Central London in June 2002 and West London in September 2002. It was expected that the NEET figures would increase during the start up period reflecting the wider remit of the Service to engage with all young people in the relevant age group.
	(ii) Data for April 2001 to March 2002 are for 16–19 year olds. Data for 16–18 year olds were not available.
	(iii) *Data for April 2001 and May 2001 were unavailable for North London Connexions Partnership due to initial difficulties in establishing coverage of the 16–18 cohorts.
	(iv) The number of 16–18 year olds not in education, employment or training increases in September each year as summer school leavers enter the labour market for the first time.
	(v) From April 2003 mandatory timescales were introduced for maintaining the currency of a young person's activity and thereby focus attention on the size of the NEET group. The variation between the partnership data from April 2003 indicates both the varying success partnerships have had in applying the follow up rules and the cyclical nature of the NEET group.

EU Accession State Students

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the number of higher education students from the EU accession states after 1 May.

Alan Johnson: In 2002/03, there were 3,374 full-time undergraduates and 362 part-time undergraduates in the UK from the 10 countries acceding to the EU on 1 May 2004. This represents 0.2 per cent. of the UK and EU domiciled undergraduate student population in UK institutions. The funding made available to HEFCE and English universities for 2004–05 provides for a modest increase in student numbers from EU countries following accession. It is not possible to predict the numbers with certainty at this stage since a decision to study in the UK depends on a number of factors, including the availability of HE in the student's home country and their ability to support their own living costs.

Pupil Funding

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Buckingham in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an area. Buckingham is a district of Buckinghamshire local education authority. The information for Buckinghamshire LEA is as follows:
	
		Net current expenditure per pupil
		
			  Pre-primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education Secondary education Special schools 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 1,821 2,626 12,809 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 1,862 2,616 13,197 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 1,862 2,670 14,438 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 1,983 2,608 15,177 
			 1999–2000 17,353 2,024 2,089 2,700 12,727 
			 2000–01 19,128 2,245 2,319 3,025 18,310 
			 2001–02 36,634 2,437 2,546 3,334 23,845 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	2. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	3. The NCE per pupil figures for pre-primary and primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the pre-primary sector and maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained nursery and primary schools sector.
	4. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.
	5. The NCE per pupil figures for special schools relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained special schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained special schools sector.
	6. 1995–96 and 1996–97 figures are for Buckinghamshire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1997–98 onwards part of Buckinghamshire LEA moved into Milton Keynes LEA.
	7. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.
	8. The financial data are taken from Buckinghamshire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously.
	9. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

Pupil Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Chorley in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Chorley is a district of Lancashire local education authority. The information for Lancashire LEA is as follows:
	
		Net current expenditure per pupil
		
			  Pre-primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education Secondary education Special schools 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 1,802 2,551 13,987 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 1,805 2,594 15,988 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 1,824 2,631 17,315 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 2,002 2,701 17,768 
			 1999–2000 7,130 2,108 2,173 2,763 18,487 
			 2000–01 11,033 2,326 2,437 2,914 18,768 
			 2001–02 16,391 2,629 2,797 3,230 20,597 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Lancashire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's R01 statement prior to then.
	2. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	4. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	5. The NCE per pupil figures for pre-primary and primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the pre-primary sector and maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained nursery and primary schools sector.
	6. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.
	7. The NCE per pupil figures for special schools relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained special schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained special schools sector.
	8. 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 figures are for Lancashire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1998–99 onwards parts of Lancashire LEA became Blackburn LEA and Blackpool LEA.
	9. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.

In-service Training (Schools)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to ringfence budgets for schools for in-service training purposes following the ending of specific support under the Standards Fund.

David Miliband: No, we are committed to reducing ring-fenced budgets for schools. We believe that schools will get best value from their budgets by managing them as a whole in accordance with their own priorities.

Pupil Mobility

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions his officials have had with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit about their research into the effect of increased pupil mobility on education in London.

Stephen Twigg: Officials from the London Challenge Programme have met with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit to discuss the relevant findings of the London Analytical Report, including those relating to pupil mobility. The London Challenge is addressing the particular challenges faced by schools with high levels of mobility through the Key Stage 3 Strategy and through the trialling of induction mentors in 22 London secondary schools as part of the 'On the Move' project.

Pupil Mobility

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there is evidence of a disproportionate effect in London authorities arising from pupil mobility.

Stephen Twigg: Pupil mobility in some London schools is significant. Data published in the Ofsted report 'Managing Pupil Mobility' in 2002 showed that mobility in both inner and outer London was higher than elsewhere. Schools in inner London authorities had an average of 14.2 per cent. of pupils joining or leaving mid year. In Outer London the average was 6.8 per cent.. This compared to 5.9 per cent. for metropolitan authorities, 6.3 per cent. for unitary authorities and 5.7 per cent. for shire authorities. Ofsted evidence suggests that where mobility levels exceed 12 per cent. there is an impact on standards achieved for all pupils. We are seeking to address the issue of pupil mobility in London through the trialling of induction mentors in 22 London secondary schools, and by the dissemination of good practice through the Key Stage 3 Strategy.

Pupil Mobility

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether good practice guidelines on pupil mobility have been issued.

Ivan Lewis: The Guidance on Managing Pupil Mobility and the accompanying Handbook for Induction Mentors were launched on 26 November 2003. Copies are available from Prolog, from the Standards website at www.standards.dfes.gsi.gov.uk/schoolimprovement. Copies have also been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Rewarding and Developing Staff Initiative

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the Government's Rewarding and Developing Staff funding has been spent on (a) additional staff, (b) external consultants, (c) general salary increases, (d) individual salary increases and (e) performance related pay.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) undertook an early evaluation of the Rewarding and Developing Staff initiative in its first year (2001–02). The evaluation findings did not provide information at the level of detail requested in the question, but did show investment by higher education institutions in the six areas prioritised by the scheme, as shown below.
	
		
			 Priority area Proportion of first year's investment 
		
		
			 Staff development (esp. management development) 30% 
			 Recruitment and retention 30% 
			 Reviews of staffing needs 12% 
			 Job evaluation/equal pay 9% 
			 Equal opportunities activities (excl. job evaluation/equal pay) 9% 
			 Annual performance reviews 7% 
			 Managing poor performance 3% 
		
	
	HEFCE will be evaluating the full first three years of the RDS initiative from autumn 2004.

Schools (West Suffolk)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools in west Suffolk which ran a budget deficit in the year ended 31 March 2003; and how much this deficit was for each school.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. West Suffolk is a district of Suffolk Local Education Authority. The information for Suffolk is as follows:
	Schools which ran a deficit budget in the year ending 31 March 2003.
	
		£
		
			 School name Deficit 
		
		
			 Claydon High School 88,658 
			 Hartismere High School 73,826 
			 Stowmarket High School 43,747 
			 Bury St. Edmunds County Upper School 34,990 
			 Westbourne High School 34,789 
			 St. Felix C of E VC Middle School 26,051 
			 Beacon Hill School 25,466 
			 Glemsford Community Primary School 4,961 
			 Hundon Community Primary School 4,592 
			 Clifford Road Primary School 2,017 
			 Downing Primary School 142 
		
	
	Notes
	1. The data are as reported by Suffolk LEA as at 18 March 2004 and taken from their 2002–03 Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES.
	2. 2002–03 data remain provisional and as such are subject to change by the LEA.
	3. Deficit budget is taken from Table B column 13—other revenue balance. This includes the cumulative balance of income less expenditure from revenue funding sources during the financial year and the balance from previous years.
	4. Figures are rounded to the nearest pound.

Teacher/Lecturer Salaries

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for the level of (a) teacher and (b) lecturer salaries, in real terms, in each of the next three years.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend has accepted the School Teachers' Review Body's recommendation that pay scales increase by 2.5 per cent. in April 2004 and by 3.25 per cent. in April 2005 to August 2006. This is in line with the Government's projections on the rate of inflation to 2006 and it is not, therefore, expected that teachers' pay will involve a real terms increase.
	The Government play no part in setting the levels of pay in the higher education and further education sectors as universities and further education colleges are independent and autonomous bodies. Pay levels are subject to negotiations between employers and the representative trade union bodies. Pay levels will therefore vary from institution to institution.

Teachers' Pensions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding teachers' pensions; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Officials in the Department are working closely with representatives of teacher and employer associations on a wide-ranging review of the Teachers' Pension Scheme that will look at what improvements and flexibilities could be introduced as part of a package of changes that will include an increase to 65 in the scheme's normal pension age.
	I have proposed that the higher pension age would be introduced for new teachers from 2006 and for the future service of existing teachers from 2013. I have also given the following assurances to teachers:
	Current members of the scheme who reach age 60 on or before 31 August 2013 will not be affected by changes to the existing pension arrangements.
	Pension benefits earned before the new arrangements start will be fully protected.
	Teachers will still be able to retire at, before or after age sixty as they do now. At retirement, pension and lump sum benefits will take account of the number of years of service the teacher has worked before and after the changes.
	Teachers, their union representatives and employers will be fully consulted on the changes.
	The review will also examine what other benefits and flexibilities can be introduced into the pension scheme.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A-levels

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what methods are being employed to ensure that the percentage of pupils achieving at least three A grades at A-level in Northern Ireland is maintained.

Jane Kennedy: The standards of attainment of pupils of all abilities, including the most able, are maintained in all schools through teachers' professional development, and evaluated through inspection.

Costello Report

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which external consultants the Department of Education employed in the development, distribution and promotion of the Costello Report.

Jane Kennedy: No external consultants were employed by my Department in the development, distribution and promotion of the Post-Primary Review Working Group's report. A private company was contracted to print and distribute copies of the report to schools and other bodies.

Costello Report

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount was spent on (a) printing the Costello Report and (b) the design, printing and distribution of the leaflet, Information about Transfer Tests and New Post-Primary Arrangements.

Jane Kennedy: The cost of printing the Costello Report was £25,000 and the cost of the design, printing and distribution of the household leaflet was £134,000.

Costello Report

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list (a) the groups and individuals he has met and (b) the groups and individuals that have requested a meeting with him to discuss post-primary arrangements, since the publication of the Costello Report.

Jane Kennedy: Since the publication of the Costello Report, I met with representatives of the UUP, DUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party and the Governing Bodies Association. I have received a request for a meeting with representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland and I hope to meet with them in the very near future.

Costello Report

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when guidance will be issued to schools about the management, planning arrangements and timetable outlined in the Implementation Process Timetable in the Costello Group Report.

Jane Kennedy: Schools will be kept informed about the implementation arrangements as they are developed. Advice about the initial stages of implementation is expected to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year.

Easter Uprising

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is regarding returning original documents held by his office from the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916 to (a) the nearest living relative and (b) the National Archives of Ireland.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office holds no such records on the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916. Public release of records by the Northern Ireland Office is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Legislation.

Easter Uprising

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason his Office retained original documents on the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office has not retained any original documents on the Easter uprising in Dublin in 1916.

Energy Costs

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds he will make available to help reduce energy costs in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The 2003 Budget included a proposal to remove some of the excess costs inherited from privatisation and reduce electricity bills for Northern Ireland businesses by some £30 million per year. I hope that the result of this will be an average decrease in electricity prices across the business sector of 10 per cent. below the levels they would otherwise have been, taking effect from later this year.
	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment officials are continuing to work with The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation and Northern Ireland Electricity on the development of this proposed intervention. They are also working with the Department of Trade and Industry on the need to secure EU State Aid approval.
	In addition I am, as part of the new strategic energy framework for Northern Ireland, considering other means of addressing the high energy costs here, including actions that can be taken to improve energy efficiency.

Fisheries

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance is provided to fishermen in (a) Portavogie, (b) Ardglass and (c) Kilkeel who are involved in a tie-up-scheme to assist the Cod Recovery Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: A transitional aid scheme has been drawn up in consultation with the local industry and is currently under consideration by the European Commission.
	My officials are pressing the Commission for their approval to detailed scheme proposals. Only when all essential approvals have been secured and the scheme has been launched will the figures of compensation paid to vessel owners by port be available.

Pay Dispute (Universities)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the pay dispute at universities in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) is taking industrial action in support of its pay claim. University staff pay is determined by central UK-wide negotiating machinery in which Government are not involved.
	The Department for Employment and Learning provides funding towards the recurrent costs of the universities but is not the employer of AUT members and has no locus in the determination of their pay. They are directly employed by the universities, which are autonomous bodies responsible for setting their own salary levels.

Planning and Development

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how much the establishment of the area planning and development partnerships is expected to cost; and what budget will be allocated to the area planning and development partnerships in each Education and Library Board area;
	(2)  how much the establishment of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Group is expected to cost; and what budget will be allocated to it.

Jane Kennedy: The arrangements for the establishment of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Group and the Area Planning and Development Partnerships are under consideration. The purpose of these groups is to provide a forum for key interests to work together. Costs have not yet been determined but are expected to be modest.

Planning and Development

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to establish strategic planning and implementation groups;
	(2)  what steps have been taken (a) to establish area and development partnerships and (b) to appoint area planning and development partnership staff.

Jane Kennedy: The membership and functions of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Group are currently under consideration and I expect the Group to be established shortly. The Department of Education will take advice from the Group about the functions of Area Planning and Development Partnerships before they are established.

School Lockers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of schools in Northern Ireland provide full locker facilities for all pupils attending school.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Seamus Ludlow

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Director of Public Prosecutions received papers prepared by the Chief Constable arising from his investigation into the murder of Mr. Seamus Ludlow; and what actions have been taken in respect of prosecutions in this case.

Paul Murphy: The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland received the police investigation file in relation to the death of Seamus Ludlow on 23 October 1998.
	On 15 October 1999 the direction for no prosecution was issued.

Southern Education and Library Board

Seamus Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when annual funding to the Southern Education and Library Board will be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I am pleased to say that all Education and Library Boards have now received details of their financial allocations for the 2004–05 financial year. These allocations reflect the Government's focus on improving the quality of service delivery in primary and post-primary education linked to a quality youth service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have so far been recruited to (a) the armed forces and (b) the police force in Afghanistan; how many of these recruits to the Afghan armed forces and police force have been retained (i) during the training and (ii) after the training has been completed; and how he intends to improve the retention of new recruits to the Afghan armed forces and police force.

Mike O'Brien: A total of 13.656 personnel have so far been recruited to the Afghan National Army (ANA). 8,912 have completed training and are now serving with deployed units, 1,589 are currently in training and a further 1,240 are at the initial processing stage. A total of 20,000 personnel have been or are being trained for the Afghan National Police (ANP) force. We do not have exact figures for retention in the ANP but overall retention rates appear better than in the ANA. Both army and police training are being accelerated following a recent significant increase in resources from the US.
	International assistance for Afghanistan on army and police training is led by the US and Germany respectively. The UK has provided substantial assistance in both fields, elements of which should directly support retention. Support for ANA development has included £830,000 for refurbishment of ANA barracks to provide decent living and working conditions. We are in the process of providing a further £10 million to develop ANA recruitment centres. The UK provided basic assistance to the ANP to help ensure the retention of national police deployed in Mazar-e Sharif (where our Provincial Reconstruction Team is located). In addition, the UK has provided nearly £1 million of support to German-led refurbishment of the Afghan Border Police Headquarters in Kabul.

Afghanistan

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies are in place to prevent violence targeted against humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: Officials from the FCO, DflD and the MoD regularly meet representatives of the British Afghanistan Agencies Group to discuss a range of issues including security.
	We and our international partners are committed to helping the Afghan Government improve the security situation in Afghanistan. In October 2003, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force beyond Kabul. Work is in hand to expand the network of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) deployed across Afghanistan, including in the south and south-east. PRTs aim to support the authority of the Afghan Government, improve the security situation, facilitate development and reconstruction, and support Security Sector Reform. In the long-term Afghanistan must have an effective national army and police force. Work to recruit and train them has been under way for some time, with our active support and involvement. A wider programme of Security Sector Reform is also underway, including the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) a unity settlement and (b) an end to the occupation of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces is a prerequisite to advancing Turkey's EU candidacy status; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: A Cyprus settlement is not a precondition for the opening of EU accession negotiations with Turkey. The UK is working to ensure a positive outcome in the ongoing settlement negotiations, including on security issues, on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals. We believe that is also the position of the Turkish Government—something which can only strengthen Turkey's relationship with the European Union.

Iran

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in persuading Iran to allow full International Atomic Energy Agency access to its nuclear facilities since he took part in the tripartite visit to Iran in 2003.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 18 March 2004
	Together with our tripartite partners, we have continued to press Iran to meet all of its obligations under the agreement signed in Tehran last October. Following informal discussions in the margins of last week's meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and further high-level contacts in Tehran, Iran has now reversed its recent decision to suspend co-operation with IAEA inspectors. It is hoped that the inspectors will now gain full access to Iranian facilities.

Lancaster House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running cost of Lancaster House was in the last year for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: In the financial year 2002–03 the running cost of Lancaster House was £1,882,000.

Lancaster House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of (a) maintaining and (b) holding publicly funded functions at Lancaster House was in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: To provide the cost of holding publicly funded functions at Lancaster House for the last five years would incur disproportionate costs. However the cost of maintaining Lancaster House is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999 161,904 
			 2000 375,679 
			 2001 746,222 
			 2002 325,632 
			 2003 608,547

Lancaster House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Lancaster House was used for private functions in each of the last five years; and what revenue was brought in as a result.

Jack Straw: No private functions are held in Lancaster House. However occasionally, on special request, the Crown Estate has allowed Lancaster House to be used for commercial filming. The revenue from this source over the last five years has been set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999 26,000 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 40,000 
			 2002 95,000 
			 2003 7,000 
		
	
	We are actively exploring the possibility of greater commercial use of the House in order to offset costs.

Lancaster House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Lancaster House was used by his Department for functions in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: In 2002 Lancaster House was used by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 236 times and in 2003, 216 times. We are unable to provide figures for previous years as this would incur disproportionate costs.

Lancaster House

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on private hire of Lancaster House.

Jack Straw: The lease for Lancaster House with the Crown Estate only permits its use by senior Civil Servants of grades 2 and above for official business. However on special request, the Crown Estate have on occasion allowed commercial filming to take place.
	We are actively exploring the possibility of greater commercial use of the House in order to offset costs.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Magistrates Courts

Bob Spink: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the ease of access to magistrates courts for rural communities.

Christopher Leslie: I currently have no plans to review access to magistrates courts in rural communities. Decisions regarding the location of magistrates courts whether rural or urban are made by local Magistrates' Courts Committee's (MCCs) pursuant to Section 31 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997.
	From April 2005 a single executive agency will be created to administer the magistrates courts, the Crown court and the county courts in England and Wales. The new agency can further improve the way all the courts work, by allowing the different parts of the system to work together more effectively to respond to local needs, including those of rural communities.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent by (a) the Government and (b) the private sector on (i) solely state financed and (ii) public-private and private finance initiative projects in the Department in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows how much the DCA has spent on (i) solely state financed and (ii) public-private and private finance initiative projects in each of the last 10 years. The figures for the solely state-financed projects are for property and construction projects only. The figures for the public-private and private finance initiative projects include IT and property and construction projects.
	An indication of the amount the private sector has spent on public-private and private finance initiative projects in the Department in each of the last 10 years can be found on the Treasury website at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public private partnerships/ppp pfi stats.cfm
	
		
			  Solely state financed(£ million) Region Public-private and private finance initiative projects (£ million) Region 
		
		
			 1994–95 33.75 Wales and Chester 0  
			  6.3 South East 0  
			 1995–96 32.7 South East 0  
			 1996–97 0  0  
			 1997–98 0  9.5 National 
			 1998–99 0  19.5  
			 1999–2000 18.7 West 28.8  
			 2000–01 0  53.6  
			 2001–02 0  1.3 Midlands 
			75 National 
			 2002–03 0  1.4 Midlands 
			99.7 National 
			 2003–04 0  1.5 Midlands 
			 (expected)   107.7 National

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs which consultees expressed concerns as to the integrity of Scots law further to the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: The Government published a summary of responses in January 2004. They have also published the full responses given by consultees on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website.
	There was no specific question on Scots Law. Only James Chalmers, a lecturer at Aberdeen university, and two members of the public suggested that the proposals would have an adverse effect on the integrity of Scots law.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Bills (Timetabling)

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list for each bill introduced in (a) Session 2001–02 and (b) Session 2002–03 (i) the number of sittings in committees, (ii) the number of knives (A) for which provision was made and (B) which took effect, (iii) the number of groups of amendments not reached because a knife took effect, (iv) the number of clauses on which the question that the clause stand part was not reached because a knife took effect, (v) for how many days each bill was considered at report stage, (vi) the number of knives (X) for which provision was made and (Y) which took effect at report stage, (vii) the number of groups of amendments not reached because a knife took effect and (viii) how long was spent in debate (1) at second reading, (2) in committee, (3) in consideration on report and (4) on third reading.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 662W. In respect of 2002–03, much of this information is published in the First Report of the Modernisation Committee, Session 2002–03 (HC 1222, p Ev3). Further information has been published by the Procedure Committee in its Minutes of Evidence of 11 February 2004 (HC 325-i, available on the Committee's web pages).

Petitions

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make it Government policy to ensure that (a) all petitions presented in the House are responded to by Government departments within five days and (b) where the petition requires a response from another body, it is responded to within 10 days.

Phil Woolas: No. I believe that five days would be an unrealistic deadline for Government Departments to respond to petitions, and, if imposed, would lead to less helpful observations. In some cases, it may not be appropriate for the Government to respond to a petition at all. However, the Modernisation Committee is examining the handling of petitions as part of its inquiry into Connecting with the Public and my right hon. Friend is willing to contemplate change.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Aggregates (Removal)

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what environmental criteria he requires to be met before authorising the removal of aggregates from the sea bed.

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister gives careful and detailed consideration to all marine minerals dredging proposals and will only approve them once fully satisfied that there will be no significant harm to the marine environment and no harm to the coastline. A Coastal Impact Study must be produced for each proposal. All applications are subject to Environmental Impact Assessment and must be accompanied by an Environmental Statement. Each application is subject to wide publicity and consultation with, among others, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), DEFRA's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Science (CEFAS), the Environment Agency and English Nature.

Council Housing

Brian Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2004, Official Report, columns 447–48W, on council housing, whether the local authorities listed in the table chose the large scale voluntary transfer option; and if he will list the local authorities who chose the (a) Arms Length Management Organisation and (b) private finance initiative option whose tenants rejected these options.

Keith Hill: Five local authorities that had unsuccessful transfer ballots later had successful transfer ballots and have transferred their housing stock to a registered social landlord. These local authorities are:
	Torbay
	Mendip
	Mid Bedfordshire
	Maidstone
	Cherwell
	Camden is the only local authority that recommended an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) to its tenants and secured a place on the ALMO programme, which subsequently had its recommendation rejected by tenants.
	Camden is also the only local authority where tenants have rejected a Private Finance Initiative Bid.

Council Tax

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum council tax is that a local authority may set for (a) a second home and (b) an empty home; and to what purposes the local authority may apply the proceeds of the council tax received in each case.

Nick Raynsford: From 1 April 2004, the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)(England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/3011) allow local billing authorities to reduce the discount on most second homes to 10 per cent. and on long-term empty homes to zero. There is a national exemption from council tax for unfurnished dwellings which are vacant for six months or less. The maximum council tax which could be charged on a second home is therefore 90 per cent. and the maximum council tax which could be charged on a long-term empty home is 100 per cent. Council tax from second homes and empty homes can be used in the same way as council tax from other property. The proceeds are shared, between billing and precepting authorities. The effect of changing the discounts on second and long-term empty homes is to raise the tax base of an area and so local authorities in that area can raise more council tax. The Government will not adjust grant because of the extra income generated by reducing the second homes discount. This means local authorities in the area have the choice to spend this on local priorities or to have a lower council tax or precept than would otherwise have been the case. In the case of long-term empty property, the Government intend to adjust grant so that extra revenue will not be retained locally.

Departmental Staff

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to (a) change staffing levels and (b) encourage (i) voluntary retirement and (ii) voluntary redundancies in the Department.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is reviewing its staffing resources as part of its business planning process and in the light of recommendations in the Lyons Review and the work currently under way in relation to the Gershon Efficiency Review. There is no current programme to encourage voluntary retirement or voluntary redundancies in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Housing

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the revenue lost to Charnwood borough council in 2003–04 through exemption for council tax of houses of multiple occupation occupied solely by students.

Keith Hill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 379W. The council tax revenue lost to Charnwood borough council through exemption for council tax of houses of multiple occupation occupied solely by students is compensated by Charnwood borough council receiving an equivalent amount of additional Revenue Support Grant before floors and ceilings.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how undertakings by local authorities to rehouse (a) released prisoners and (b) members of the forces released from service, together with their families, are maintained when councils transfer their housing stock to registered social landlords.

Keith Hill: After transfer local housing authorities retain their statutory functions in relation to homelessness and the allocation of housing. The Housing Allocation, Homelessness and Stock Transfer—A Guide to Key Issues issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in January 2004 advises that it is crucial for housing authorities to negotiate nomination agreements with the transfer landlord and other partner RSLs to ensure that they can continue to discharge their statutory responsibilities.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central Government spending was allocated since 1999, and to which authorities, to (a) paying off housing debt after large scale voluntary transfer, (b) grants and payments to Arms Length Management Organisations and (c) contributions to the cost of (i) fees, (ii) consultancies and (iii) information campaigns in ballots for transfer which had a (A) successful and (B) unsuccessful outcomes.

Keith Hill: Since 1999 there have been 10 large scale voluntary transfers where the receipt was insufficient and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister made an overhanging debt payment. The payments are tabled as follows.
	
		
			 Financial year Local authority £ million 
		
		
			 1999–2000 Burnley 21.0 
			 2001–02 Coventry 111.7 
			 2001–02 Calderdale 64.6 
			 2001–02 Blackburn with Darwen 78.9 
			 2002–03 St. Helens 87.2 
			 2002–03 Redcar and Cleveland 25.4 
			 2002–03 Knowsley 126.1 
			 2002–03 Carlisle 18.0 
			 2002–03 Bradford 182.8 
			 2002–03 Walsall 108.7 
		
	
	The following allocations have been made to local authorities setting up Arms Length Management Organisations under Rounds 1–3 of the programme:
	
		
			 Round 1 ALMOs Allocation 2002–04 (£ million) 
		
		
			 Ashfield* 24.0 
			 Derby* 31.1 
			 Hounslow* 35.0 
			 Kirklees* 62.5 
			 Rochdale* 24.2 
			 Stockton-on-Tees* 44.5 
			 Westminster* 20.3 
			 Wigan* 58.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Round 2 ALMOs Allocation 2003–05 (£ million) 
		
		
			 Barnsley* 48.2 
			 Blyth Valley* 17.5 
			 Bolton* 53.0 
			 Brent* 33.8 
			 Carrick* 7.2 
			 Cheltenham* 15.0 
			 Colchester 13.5 
			 Hillingdon* 16.6 
			 Kensington and Chelsea* 21.7 
			 Leeds East 14.7 
			 Leeds North East* 10.5 
			 Leeds North West 16.1 
			 Leeds South East 10.4 
			 Leeds South 22.6 
			 Leeds West* 18.3 
			 Oldham* 36.0 
			 Salford 53.5 
			 Waltham Forest 28.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Round 3 ALMOs Allocation 2004–06 (£ million) 
		
		
			 Barnet 19.0 
			 Camden 45.0 
			 Easington 23.6 
			 Gateshead 63.0 
			 Harrow 5.0 
			 High Peak 4.7 
			 Islington 24.9 
			 Newcastle 64.0 
			 Poole 17.4 
			 Sheffield (partial) 49.7 
			 Solihull 21.0 
			 South Lakeland 4.2 
			 Warrington 18.3 
		
	
	All allocations are conditional on the local authority receiving approval to delegate its housing management functions to the ALMO under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985 and the ALMO receiving at least a two star rating from the Housing Inspectorate. Those marked * have fulfilled these two conditions and funding has therefore been confirmed. Salford and Camden have since withdrawn from the ALMO programme.
	Expenditure incurred in carrying out the statutory consultation required under section 106A of the Housing Act 1985, including the cost of any ballot, is considered to be in connection with the management of dwellings held within the Housing Management Account and therefore must be charged to that account.
	No payment is made by central Government towards the cost of such consultation and figures for the total expenditure on this, including the cost of fees, consultants and information campaigns by local authorities, are not held centrally.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to consult council tenants about the Fourth Option of allowing councils to retain and improve their council house stock;
	(2)  what consultations he has held with (a) councils and (b) the Local Government Association about the Fourth Option of allowing councils to retain and improve their council housing stock.

Keith Hill: There has been no need for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to consult with individual council tenants or local government associations about local authority stock retention. All local authorities are aware that they can retain their housing stock if they can meet the decent homes standard through existing funding streams.

Local Government Grants

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the effective grant increase to Harrogate borough council is in financial year 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: Harrogate borough council received a formula grant increase of £249,000 (3 per cent.) compared to the 2003–04 formula grant after adjusting for changes in funding and function i.e. on a like-for-like basis.

London Electorate

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that the London electorate is able to understand (a) the range of elections in June and (b) the different voting system they will have to use.

Keith Hill: Responsibility for promoting voter understanding in the June elections to the Greater London Authority and European Parliament rests with the Electoral Commission under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The Greater London Returning Officer has overall responsibility for organising and running the GLA elections and, in 2004, the European Parliament elections in the London region. I understand that the Electoral Commission and Greater London Returning Officer are working in partnership on a programme of public information and awareness.
	The Government have made provision for the Greater London Returning Officer to include information about the GLA and European Parliamentary elections in the booklet of election addresses by the Mayoral candidates, which the Greater London Returning Officer compiles and which will be delivered to each elector. The election rules also require the Greater London Returning Officer to provide notices for the guidance of voters which must be displayed at polling stations and for similar information to be sent to postal voters.

Ministerial Meetings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met members or officials of the Electoral Commission; what the purpose of that meeting was; and what the outcome was.

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met with members of the Electoral Commission on 3 March to discuss issues relating to the piloting of all-postal voting at the European Parliamentary and combined local elections in June, including how many regions should be involved. Both parties agreed that the regions that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced should use all-postal voting this year are each capable of running a successful pilot.

Regional Bodies

Neil Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the locations of the offices of regional bodies and agencies for which his Department is responsible, broken down by county.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for no regional bodies. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for the Government Offices for the Regions (GOs). The GOs are part of central Government and not regional bodies in their own right.

Supporting People Initiative

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will review the proposed cuts in the Supporting People allocations for 2004–05 with a view to protecting from those cuts local authorities with low per head of population allocations;
	(2)  if he will reverse the proposed cuts in the Supporting People allocations for 2004–05 in respect of individual local authorities, with particular reference to Staffordshire.

Yvette Cooper: Following the late sharp increase in the size of the Supporting People budget last year the Government launched an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme. The review concluded that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for legacy funding, however it recommended that the pace of change needed to take account of the need to protect services for vulnerable people. This is why authorities have only been required to make a 2.5 per cent. efficiency saving in 2004–05 with an element of these funds being re-allocated elsewhere on the programme. The final Supporting People grant allocations for 2004–05 have now been made and will not be reverted. Those allocations reflect a very significant increase in funding compared to two years ago.
	Decisions about longer-term future allocations are still under consideration, but we are looking at the wide variation in provision and circumstances between authorities. The intention has always been to move towards a needs based allocation formula, the Independent Review has made recommendations on the formula and we are looking at these recommendations in detail.

Supporting People Initiative

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 84WS, on Supporting People Programme 2004–05, whether reductions in funding allocation for the Supporting People Programme 2005–06 will only apply to local authorities with high unit costs.

Yvette Cooper: Future funding for Supporting People is being considered as part of the Spending Review 2004. Additionally an accelerated inspection programme will look at 19 high cost authorities to help address this issue.

Supporting People Initiative

David Kidney: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce funding allocations for the Supporting People Programme 2005–06.

Yvette Cooper: The Supporting People funding allocations for 2005–06 for England will be announced by November 2004.

Supporting People Initiative

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future funding of the Supporting People Programme for (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 in (i) the North West and (ii) Lancashire.

Yvette Cooper: The Supporting People Programme Grant Allocations for England for 2004–05 were announced on 12 February 2004. Future years funding for the programme is being considered as part of the Spending Review 2004.

HEALTH

Agency Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of agency spending on staff other than doctors and nurses in the NHS in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority for each year since 1997, broken down by category of staff.

John Hutton: The National Health Service does not separately record the cost of employing agency staff. The following figures include total cost to the NHS of staff (excluding doctors and nurses) not directly employed by NHS bodies.
	The table shows all non-National Health Service staff expenditure incurred by health authorities, NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England, broken down by staff category, excluding non-NHS doctors and non-NHS nurses. Details of expenditure in each health authority area for the years in question have been placed in the Library.
	
		Expenditure on non NHS staff (excluding doctors and nurses—England) -- £
		
			 Staff Category (by NHS classification) 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Dental Staff 1,332,649 933,032 764,933 3,131,477 4,405,459 5,117,828 
			 Scientific, Therapeutic and Technical Staff 69,770,807 93,972,343 111,556,549 148,760,849 195,072,433 233,304,815 
			 Administrative and Clerical Staff 59,577,521 72,006,752 89,992,230 117,545,163 153,690,347 172,345,658 
			 Maintenance and Works Staff 3,240,005 4,195,167 4,370,933 5,089,984 5,770,689 6,668,042 
			 Ambulance Staff 197,276 92,964 173,807 620,184 207,693 655,253 
			 Healthcare Assistants and Other Support Staff 26,791,401 30,398,979 34,113,979 38,497,530 44,929,553 58,713,051 
			 Other Employees 15,535,029 18,206,059 21,326,417 24,896,308 32,897,809 77,766,180 
			 England Total 176,444,688 219,805,296 262,298.848 338,541,495 436,973,983 554,570,827 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Annual Financial Returns of Health Authorities, 1997–98 to 2001–02
	2. Annual Financial Returns of Strategic Health Authorities, 2002–03
	3. Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trusts, 1997–98 to 2002–03
	4. Annual Financial Returns of Primary Care Trusts, 2000–01 to 2002–03
	The separate figures not included in the table for doctors and nurses include all medical staff and all nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. All data for 2002–03 are provisional

Biomedical Sciences

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current role of the Workforce Development Confederation of the NHS is in providing training and support for biomedical sciences for the NHS.

John Hutton: Workforce development confederations are responsible for developing the existing and future workforce of the National Health Service, including those working in biomedical sciences. This includes assessment of the right number of staff and strategies to ensure that they are in place, including support for training and recruitment and retention initiatives.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England funds the majority of undergraduates in biomedical sciences. The NHS multi-professional education and training budget funds the year in service leading to state registration.

Care Homes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the differentials between rates paid by local authorities for residents in local authority care homes and those paid for residents in private care homes in the same local authority area.

Stephen Ladyman: Where council-run services are more expensive than those provided by the independent sector, councils need to demonstrate through best value reviews that those higher costs are justified.

Clinical Staff Numbers

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were per head of population in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were practising per 1,000 population in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The table shows the number of doctors and nurses per 100,000 population in each year since 1997.
	The standard ratio used in the Department is per 100,000 population.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff(17) and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)(18)and all NHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including Practice Nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)(19), per 100,000 of population -- Englandnumbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998(20) 1999(20) 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Population 48,635,908 48,789,240 48,986,999 49,166,627 49,389,736 49,561,751 
			 All Doctors(17) (excluding retainers) 89,619 91,837 93,981 96,319 99,169 103,350 
			 Per 100,000 population 184.3 188.2 191.8 195.9 200.8 208.5 
			 of which:   
			 HCHS Staff(17) 60,230 62,140 63,994 66,067 68,484 72,168 
			 Per 100,000 population 123.8 127.4 130.6 134.4 138.7 145.6 
			 General Medical Practitoners (excluding retainers) 29,389 29,697 29,987 30,252 30,685 31,182 
			 Per 100,000 population 60 61 61 62 62 63 
			 Nurses 318,856 323,457 329,637 335,952 350,381 367,520 
			 Per 100,000 population 655.6 663.0 672.9 683.3 709.4 741.5 
		
	
	(17) Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals
	(18) All Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers) includes UPEs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA) and PMS Other.
	(19) UPEs include QMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs
	(20) Practice nurse headcount figures are estimated for 1998 and 1999.
	Practice nurse figures are as at 1 October for 1997–99.
	All data as at 30 September each year except GP and Practice nurses as at 1 October 1997–99
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2001 ONS Population Census

Committee on Safety of Medicines

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the Committee on Safety of Medicines was first informed of the risk of stroke in certain atypical antipsychotics used for the treatment of elderly people with dementia;
	(2)  what arrangements his Department has for sharing information between the Committee on Safety of Medicines and similar organisations in other countries on the safety of medicines used internationally;
	(3)  what representations he received on the risk of stroke with antipsychotics before the announcement of 9 March 2004 on the treatment of people with dementia;
	(4)  what facilities the Committee on Safety of Medicines has for basing its decisions on medicines used in the UK on clinical trials held in other countries.

Stephen Ladyman: The safety of medicines is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with expert advice from the Government's independent expert advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM).
	Early information on the risk of stroke in dementia patients treated with risperidone was assessed by the MHRA in 2002, resulting in changes to the product information to include appropriate warnings. However, it was not until later in 2003, when further data became available, that revealed the magnitude of the risk and potential public health implications. The CSM was consulted in December 2003, as soon as all the data and subsequent analyses had been compiled and assessed by the MHRA. The CSM considered an assessment of all available data from clinical trials with risperidone and advised that additional analyses of the risperidone clinical trials in dementia and analysis of the risk of alternative treatments were required, as well as expert advice in the treatment of patients with dementia.
	An expert working group, including geriatricians, psychogeriatricians and psychiatrists, met on 19 January 2004 to consider a formal meta-analysis of clinical trial data for risperidone and clinical trial data on olanzapine, which had recently become available. The CSM considered the recommendations of the expert working group at the end of January and advised that the risks of stroke with risperidone and olanzapine should be communicated accompanied by comprehensive treatment guidelines to inform the necessary changes in prescribing practice. In the case of a third atypical antipsychotic quetiapine, there were insufficient data to draw conclusions.
	Risperidone has a United Kingdom marketing authorisation, whereas olanzapine has a European authorisation valid throughout the European Community. The communication in the UK on 9 March 2004 on risperidone and olanzapine was planned to coincide with a Europe-wide communication on olanzapine following consideration by the European scientific committee, the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) at its February meeting.
	The CSM, through the MHRA, has close links with regulatory authorities world-wide. The MHRA is represented on the CPMP and its Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP), which meet monthly and provide a regular forum for discussion of drug safety issues within the European Union. An electronic communication system allows rapid exchange of drug safety information between member states. The PhVWP has regular videoconferences to share drug safety information with the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America. The MHRA is a member of the Vigimed mailing list, which is an e-mail distribution list set up to facilitate rapid exchange of information between National Centres participating in the World Health Organisation International Drug Monitoring Programme. The MHRA also has informal links with other regulatory authorities world-wide.
	There is an obligation on companies making an application for a marketing authorisation to provide the MHRA with all information relevant to the assessment of risks and benefits on the product at the time of the application; this includes data from clinical trials conducted outside the UK. For marketed drugs, the marketing authorisation holder's "qualified person", who is responsible for their pharmacovigilance system, has an obligation to inform the MHRA of any information relevant to the evaluation of the risks and benefits of the product.
	Aside from the data and interpretation received from the company, and their corresponding applications to vary the Marketing Authorisation, no representations were received on the risk of stroke with antipsychotics before the announcement of 9 March.

Community Care Act

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities had incurred fines following the introduction of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc) Act 2003, at the latest available date; how much the fines for each local authority have been since the Act came into force; what the total amount of fines incurred by local authorities is; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Figures for legal liability for delayed discharges for individual councils are not currently held centrally although data on the number of delays and the level of legal liabilities will be available in due course, once the data have been validated. However 17 councils have indicated that they have no liabilities for charges since reimbursement came into force. Further, the majority of social services departments have arranged local investment agreements with the national health service and will only pay charges once they exceed this locally agreed level of investment.

Continuing NHS Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the review of continuing NHS care in nine strategic health authorities, referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Warner on 10 March.

Stephen Ladyman: The independent review of the implementation of fully funded national health service continuing care in nine strategic health authorities is currently underway and is expected to be completed in the spring.

Delayed Discharges

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients' hospital discharge was delayed while awaiting community care packages in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each of the last six years.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2004
	Data on delayed discharges are not collected on the basis of awaiting community care services. All available information on delayed transfers of care since 1997 are available in the Library, including the latest figures for 2003–04, Quarter 3 (December 2003).

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral answer of the Minister of State on 24 February 2004, Official Report, column 133, on dentistry, when the hon. Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton) will write to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam.

Rosie Winterton: I wrote to the hon. Member on Tuesday 16 March 2004. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Drinking Water

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the provision of drinking water in NHS hospitals for (a) staff and (b) patients; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Departmental policy is to provide staff and patients in the national health service with wholesome potable water as required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. Most of the water supplied in the NHS is from mains supply. It is the responsibility of the relevant water company to deliver water of drinkable quality to the NHS site. NHS trusts are responsible for maintaining water quality within their buildings.

Care Eligibility Criteria

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring and assessment his Department will carry out of the current review that strategic health authorities are undertaking of their eligibility criteria and of individual cases by March, as referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Warner on 10 March.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no plans to evaluate the fully funded national health service continuing care eligibility criteria of each strategic health authority. It is the responsibility of each SHA to be satisfied that their criteria reflect existing guidance and the Coughlan judgment. The number of investigations completed and the number of cases granted recompense will be reviewed after the end of March deadline.

Energy Consumption

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made to date by NHS estates towards meeting his target of reducing energy consumption by 15 per cent. during this decade.

Melanie Johnson: The national health service continues to make progress to meet this challenging target. Since the 1980s there has been a continuing downward trend in energy usage, carbon emissions are reducing and 68 per cent. of the existing NHS estate has already achieved the energy efficiency target.
	NHS Estates is also working closely with Action Energy, NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (NHS PASA), and the Carbon Trust to support the NHS and provide best practice advice and guidance to improve energy efficiency.

Free Prescriptions

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the categories of patients eligible for free prescriptions in England.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 March 2004
	Representations received since 1 January 2004 have been identified in respect of the following groups: Medical Conditions:
	Alopecia
	Alzheimer's disease
	Arthritis
	Asthma
	Autoimmune condition
	Cancer
	Chronic illness (unidentified)
	Coeliac disease
	Crohn's disease
	Cystic Fibrosis
	Downs Syndrome
	Haemophilia
	Heart condition
	Hormone replacement treatment (male and female)
	Hyperpituitarism
	Hypertension
	Incontinence
	Kidney dialysis
	Leg Ulcers, dressings
	Lupus
	M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
	Mental Health (various)
	Multiple sclerosis
	Muscular Dystrophy
	Parkinson's Disease
	Pleurisy
	Spleen removed
	Ulcerative Colitis
	Other circumstances:
	Apprentices
	Day Case Patients
	Private Patients
	Recipients of:
	Carer's Allowance
	Disability Living Allowance
	Incapacity Benefit
	Students

General Medical Council

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether proficiency in the use of the English language is a requirement for applicant doctors from the European Union seeking to register with the General Medical Council in order to work in the NHS.

John Hutton: Doctors who are European Economic Area nationals do not have to undertake English language competency tests in order to register with the General Medical Council. The law does not currently permit this. It is the responsibility of national health service employers to ensure that all doctors they employ have the necessary English language competence to carry out their duties safely. They may require a doctor to undertake a language assessment as part of the recruitment process, regardless of which country they come from.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance to general practitioners on implementing the advanced access system; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: A copy of "Improving access in primary care with Advanced Access" has been placed in the Library. This is produced by the primary care collaborative. A key role for the collaborative is to explain, promote and disseminate "Advanced Access". Participating general practices have delivered impressive results—delivering a 72 per cent, reduction in waits for a general practitioner and a 50 per cent, reduction in waits to see a nurse. In large part as a result of this work, most patients in most areas are now able to be offered fast access to a GP or other primary care professional, in line with the NHS Plan target.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reimbursement is made available to GP practices meeting the (a) 48 and (b) 24 hour access targets.

John Hutton: Under the new primary medical services contracts, a practice will, from 2005–06, be able to receive on average up to £11,000 annually for achieving and sustaining delivery of patient access to services in line with the NHS Plan target. Most patients in most areas are now offered this level of access and we are confident that these financial incentives will ensure that this level of access continues and improves further.

General Practitioners

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are per head of population in each of the primary care trusts within the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of general practitioners per head of population for each primary care trust within the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge Strategic Health Authority area is shown in the table.
	
		Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents(21)(UPEs) per 100,000 patients for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority by Primary Care Trust as at 30September 2003 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  UPEs UPE patients UPEs per 100,000 patients 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,341 2,211,268 61 
			 of which:
			 Broadland 73 119,170 61 
			 Cambridge City 87 137,350 63 
			 Central Suffolk 63 95,586 66 
			 East Cambridgeshire and Fenland 81 148,405 55 
			 Great Yarmouth 47 89,627 52 
			 Huntingdonshire 94 148,749 63 
			 Ipswich 88 147,514 60 
			 North Norfolk 60 100,541 60 
			 North Peterborough 58 114,528 51 
			 Norwich 91 129,677 70 
			 South Cambridgeshire 64 104,440 61 
			 South Peterborough 56 94,850 59 
			 Southern Norfolk 114 198,741 57 
			 Suffolk Coastal 63 97,544 65 
			 Suffolk West 137 222,666 62 
			 Waveney 76 124,716 61 
			 West Norfolk 89 137,164 65 
		
	
	(21) UPEs include QMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs
	Source
	Department of Health General and Personal
	Medical Services Statistics

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were received in the last two years, by Great Ormond Street Hospital regarding pay for junior doctors on rotation; how many junior doctors were involved in those complaints; how many of those complaints have been settled; what procedures are in place to enable junior doctors to force such complaints to be addressed; and what time limit is placed on the hospital in settling such complaints or appeals.[R]

John Hutton: I am advised by North Central London Strategic Health Authority that:
	Great Ormond Street Hospital National Health Service Trust has received three formal grievances/complaints regarding junior doctors banding and pay protection.
	12 junior doctors from Great Ormond Street Hospital were involved in those complaints.
	One grievance/complaint involving eight doctors has been settled.
	The procedures in place are as set out in the national guidance and the process is being handled through the North Central London action team.
	This appeal process does not outline time-scales for completing the process (as in the case of the Employment Tribunal, the time-scale is influenced by the individual case). Great Ormond Street also has its own internal appeals process, which would be triggered if either party is unhappy with the views expressed by the action team on this matter.

Hand Hygiene Trial

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the NHS hand hygiene trial launched in July 2003 was; and what the outcome was.

John Hutton: The National Patient Safety Agency launched a 'clean your hands' pilot campaign in July 2003. It aims to develop solutions to improve hand hygiene compliance by national health service staff, by testing ideas at six pilot sites. It is estimated that about £600,000 would be required to launch a campaign and supply a toolkit to every acute sector ward in the NHS, which works out at a cost of less than £2,000 per trust. The annual cost to the NHS of healthcare acquired infections has been estimated to be about £1 billion.
	The evaluation report will be available in April 2004, but preliminary findings show that it achieved its objectives in raising staff and patient awareness of the importance of hand hygiene and increasing hand hygiene compliance.

Health Services (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made to NHS waiting list times in each of the last seven years for Chorley residents.

Melanie Johnson: Information most closely associated with place of residency is not collected on a constituency level, but at a health services commissioner level. Data are shown in the tables for the South Lancashire Health Authority for the period 1997 to 2002 and the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust for 2003.
	
		In-patient waiting list in months
		
			  Name of commissioners Total 0–2 3–5 6–8 9–11 12–14 15–17 18 plus 
		
		
			 1996–97 South Lancashire HA 10,092 4,565 2,587 1,696 1,069 160 12 3 
			 1997–98 South Lancashire HA 10,414 4,566 2,391 1,580 1,128 563 186 0 
			 1998–99 South Lancashire HA 9,179 4,259 2,285 1,354 839 356 86 0 
			 1999–2000 South Lancashire HA 8,604 4,251 2,042 1,260 715 270 66 0 
			 2000–01 South Lancashire HA 8,283 4,401 1,979 1,041 559 208 95 0 
			 2001–02 South Lancashire HA 8,047 4,317 1,997 1,090 544 99 0 0 
			 2002–03 Chorley and South Ribble PCT 4,761 3,108 1,108 510 35 0 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health QF01.
	
		Out-patient waiting list in weeks
		
			  Name 13–25 26 plus 
		
		
			 1997–98 South Lancashire HA 2,200 629 
			 1998–99 South Lancashire HA 2,790 1373 
			 1999–2000 South Lancashire HA 2,135 507 
			 2000–01 South Lancashire HA 1,823 374 
			 2001–02 South Lancashire HA 1,676 1 
		
	
	
		Out-patient waiting list in weeks—Chorley and South Ribble PCT
		
			 2002–03 Number 
		
		
			 13–17 363 
			 17–21 108 
			 21–26 0 
			 26 plus 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health QM08R.

Hepatitis C

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dependants will not receive compensation from the Hepatitis C Ex Gratia scheme as a result of the 29 August 2003 cut-off.

Melanie Johnson: It is not possible to estimate accurately the number of dependants of people in England who were infected with hepatitis C as a result of National Health Service treatment with blood or blood products and who died of all causes before 29 August 2003.
	However, the latest figures from the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation indicate that a total of 212 people with haemophilia have died as a direct result of the effects of hepatitis C. The number of non-haemophiliacs who have died as a direct result of the effects of hepatitis C is not known.

Heroin Substitutes

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the efficacy of prescribing heroin substitutes.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The DH clinical guidelines, published in 1999, lay out the principles of safe and responsible prescribing to drug misusers. The guidelines discuss a number of alternative opiate and non-opiate substitute drugs. The recommendations in the guidelines are based on an expert review of the evidence.
	Building on that, the National Treatment Agency (NTA) has produced guidance on the drugs used for substitute prescribing. This guidance was produced with the help of an expert working group, who based their advice on the evidence base. The NTA have also published guidance on the prescribing of injectable opiates for the small group of drug misusers who do not respond to oral substitute prescribing.

Hospital Food

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that hospitals provide (a) nutritious and (b) high quality food for patients.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan required hospitals, by 2004, to have a hospital nutrition policy to improve the outcome of care for patients and reduce dependency on intravenous feeding regimes. Hospitals should also ensure that their menus are subject to nutritional analysis to ensure they meet the needs of patients.
	To assist hospitals in providing high quality food and food services, NHS Estates developed the Better Hospital Food programme. The national health service is making good progress in delivering these new services which reflect patients' preferences and provide a wider range of food options, including recipes and product purchasing specifications. In addition, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has in place stringent controls to ensure the quality of all food for which contracts are negotiated on behalf of the NHS.
	Patient environment action teams inspect the quality of food served in hospitals as part of their annual assessments.

Immigrant Medical Inspections

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used for referrals to medical inspectors of immigrants at (a) Heathrow Terminal 3, (b) other terminals at Heathrow, (c) Gatwick north terminal, (d) Gatwick south terminal and (e) Manchester airport; and what the reasons are for any differences.

Melanie Johnson: Under paragraph 36 of the Immigration Rules (HC395 as amended), Immigration Officers have the power to refer any individual who is subject to immigration control to a doctor for a medical examination at the port of entry.
	Long-standing policy is that any person subject to immigration control who:
	mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for coming to the United Kingdom, or appears unwell; or
	is seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more and is at high risk of having been exposed to tuberculosis
	should be referred by the Immigration Officer to a medical inspector.
	We are advised by the Home Office that these criteria apply at all ports of entry.

Medical Students

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of medical graduates failed to embark on medical careers in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: The information is not available in the form requested. The Medical Careers Research Group periodically surveys selected cohorts of medical school graduates. Their latest available data on whether doctors are still practising medicine is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year of Cohort Not practisingmedicine Not practisingmedicine in the UK 
			 Qualification size Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1974 2344 131 5.6 339 14.5 
			 1977 3130 184 5.9 395 12.6 
			 1983 3841 204 5.3 357 9.3 
			 1988 3731 307 8.2 514 13.8 
			 1993 3639 188 5.2 322 8.8 
			 1996 3836 182 4.7 302 7.9

MMR Vaccine

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the take-up rate of MMR vaccine was in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by strategic health authority.

Melanie Johnson: Information about the childhood immunisation programme, which includes children immunised by their first and second birthday, and from 1999 to 2000 by their fifth birthday, is derived from the COVER (Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly) system and collected by the Health Protection Agency.
	Information about the uptake of MMR immunisations and other childhood immunisations is published annually in Department of Health Statistical Bulletins. The latest bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2002–03" is available in the Library and on the Department's website http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0316.pdf. This is the first year that uptake by strategic health authority has been available.
	Quarterly figures on MMR Uptake from April 2003 to September 2003 are available on the Health Protection Agency's website at, http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/vaccination/cover sha.htm

National Programme for Information Technology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 1112W, on the IT Programme, what the total projected cost of the National Programme for Information Technology was for each year when it was announced, including local and central procurement; what the latest available total projected cost is; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 1111W, which set out the projected costs of the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) when it was announced in June 2002.
	Since that time contracts of up to nine years duration have been awarded under the NpfIT, as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Company Value(£ million) Contract 
		
		
			 BT 620 National data spine 
			 BT 530 National broadband network 
			 Atos Origin SchlumbergerSema) 64.5 National e-booking service 
			 Accenture 1,099 North East local service provider (LSP) 
			 Accenture 934 Eastern LSP 
			 BT 996 London LSP 
			 CSC 973 North West and West Midlands LSP 
			 Fujitsu 986 Southern LSP 
		
	
	Local spend by national health service trusts on IT has been approximately £850 million per year and this level of local investment from the baseline allocation needs to continue to provide adequate resource to support local implementation of the national programme.

National Service Frameworks

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which of his Department's National Service Frameworks specific funding has been allocated to primary care trusts for the delivery of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 2003–04 to 2005–06 were announced on 11 December 2002. The allocations include funding for all national service frameworks and national policy developments. None of the growth money has been identified for specific purposes. PCTs will be able to use these extra resources to deliver on both national and local priorities.

Neurofibromatosis Association

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Neurofibromatosis Association will be told the outcome of their section 64 grant application for the development of a specialist adviser service.

Stephen Ladyman: The Neurofibromatosis Association were told the outcome of their section 64 grant application verbally on 19 March, and a letter of notification was sent to them on the same day.

NHS Capital Use

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each (a) NHS region, (b) strategic health authority and (c) NHS trust the (i) monetary value of approvals to use capital for revenue purposes, (ii) the number of approvals and (iii) the total capital allocation for 2002–03.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate (a) the total cost to date of NHS Professionals and (b) the total savings the agency has made in the cost of agency spending; and if he will make a statement;

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 969W, on NHS Professionals, 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of how much NHS Professionals (a) has saved and (b) has cost to set up and run to date;
	(2)  how much funding NHS Professionals has received from the Department for set-up and running costs in each year since its inception;
	(3)  how much funding NHS Professionals is forecast to receive from the Department in future financial years; and whether it is predicted to be self-funding.

John Hutton: NHS Professionals was initially allocated £7 million to support the start up of pilot sites. A further £24 million was invested in 2002–03 to support roll out and it is anticipated that approximately £22 million will be spent in 2003–04. The NHS Professionals Special Health Authority business plan for 2004–05 is currently being finalised. The business plan will set out the level of funding required for NHS Professionals to be self-sustaining in the longer-term.
	The cost savings for National Health Service trusts using the NHS Professionals service are accrued at a local level and there is currently no central collection of this information. Information on local benefits and savings will be collected in future by the newly established NHS Professionals Special Health Authority.

NHS Staff (IT Qualifications)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost per individual of training and accrediting NHS staff with the European Computer Driving Licence for IT; and whether this estimate includes financial costs incurred through lost working hours;
	(2)  what the implications of the National Plan for IT in the NHS are for NHS staff who are unable to (a) demonstrate proficiency in IT and (b) obtain a European computer driving licence;
	(3)  which types of NHS staff will be required to obtain a European computer driving licence;
	(4)  how many NHS staff hold a recognised IT qualification for the purposes of working in the NHS; and whether such staff will be required to obtain a European computer driving licence;
	(5)  if he will estimate the number of NHS staff who will be required to obtain a European computer driving licence (ECDL); and whether staff who already have a recognised IT qualification will be required to obtain an ECDL.

John Hutton: The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is a qualification recognised around the world for basic computing skills. General information technology skills should be seen as an everyday requirement for any service based organisation. The opportunity to gain the ECDL qualification is offered to all staff working in the National Health Service. For NHS staff, it provides a basic level of knowledge, which enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills. The ECDL is completed in modules and designed to be completed over time and to fit in and around any other work requirements.
	There is no formal requirement for NHS staff to hold the ECDL for the purpose of working in the NHS. As a matter of good practice, and as part of its commitment to life-long learning, the NHS encourages all staff to develop appropriate skills, including competency in the use of IT.
	The national health informatics development team within the NHS Information Authority has put in place central facilities to support local NHS organisations in training needs around the ECDL. Since the programme was launched in March 2003, 9,000 people have qualified and a further 54,000 have registered. It is expected that up 40 per cent. of NHS staff will register over the five year timescale of the central programme. The central programme provides central support for registration and validation of ECDL training that would otherwise fall to individual NHS organisations and is expected to cost £15 million. It remains the responsibility of local NHS organisations to provide local facilities. Specific costs for ECDL training by individual members of staff are not identified.
	Training, development and deployment of staff is a matter for local management. The NHS is an organisation committed to equal opportunities and valuing diversity therefore appropriate opportunities and support should be made available for all staff regardless of whether they hold an ECDL qualification or not.
	The Government hope that training and skills development are regarded as an integral part of employment, and that time spent by staff on training for any recognised vocational skill is not identified as lost.

NHS University Helpline

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many calls have been made to the NHS University Helpline in each month that the service has been operational;
	(2)  what the cost of establishing the NHS University Helpline was; and what estimate he has made of the monthly cost of operating it;
	(3)  on what date the NHS University Helpline started operating.

John Hutton: The NHSU helpline—u-/—was launched on 24 November 2003.
	The service is still in its early stages of development and will not become fully operational in the national health service until next financial year.
	In the trial period to date, over 1,000 individuals have contacted the service seeking independent advice on learning and personal development.
	The monthly figures are:
	December—223
	January—234
	February—306
	March (to 14 March 2004)—287
	The set-up costs were £567,000
	The estimated monthly operating costs for this period were £49,700.

Non-consultant Career Grade Doctors

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the difference in pay between experienced non-consultant career grade doctors and general practitioners with special interests; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Department has not conducted any specific assessment of this kind.
	The pay of most non-consultant career grade doctors is based on the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. Pay for general medical practitioners with special interests depends on the contract between the general practitioner and the employing or commissioning body.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has held with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on the eligibility of applicants from EU accession countries to register in the UK from 1 May; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Department has kept in frequent contact with the Nursing and Midwifery Council both directly and through a meeting this week with the Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe to ensure that all the health care regulatory bodies are aware of their responsibilities in registering applicants from the new member states after 1 May 2004.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether proficiency in the use of the English language is a requirement for nurses from the European Union seeking to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in order to work in the NHS.

John Hutton: Nurses who are European Economic Area nationals do not have to undertake English language competency tests in order to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The law does not currently permit this. It is the responsibility of national health service employers to ensure that all nurses they employ have the necessary English language competence to carry out their duties safely. They may require a nurse to undertake a language assessment as part of the recruitment process, regardless of which country they come from.

Nursing

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures he intends to take to ensure that the registered nursing care contribution bands reflect increases in nursing costs.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The increases to the monetary values for national health service funded nursing care for 2004–05 are already in line with the 3.225 per cent, increase in NHS nurses' and midwives' pay, from April this year.

Opticians (NHS Vouchers)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what monitoring has been undertaken by his Department of the availability of opticians who will accept NHS vouchers for prescriptions for spectacles;
	(2)  what representations he has received on the reimbursement of opticians by NHS organisations of the value of NHS vouchers for spectacles; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: All optical premises registered on a primary care trust's list will accept national health service optical vouchers provided under the general ophthalmic service. At December 2002, there were 6,139 premises on PCT lists in England.
	The Department has received occasional representation from individuals about the cost of optical vouchers not meeting the cost of spectacles. We recently announced that optical vouchers for people with high prescriptions would increase by 10 per cent, from 1 April. This will help with the additional cost of these high prescription lenses. As announced on 12 February we will continue to keep these voucher values under review.

Out-of-hours Provision

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which budget the (a) £30 million scheme for out-of-hours provision announced on 4 March and (b) the wider £100 million growth package will be paid.

John Hutton: The £30 million of capital funds to incentivise out-of-hours provision is part of the wider £100 million growth package. These funds were allocated within 2004–05's record £3.6 billion capital resource, of which £3.3 billion was voted by Parliament, with the remainder funded through the sale of surplus property.

Paddington Basin Hospital Project

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the report of the National Audit Office into the Paddington Basin Hospital project.

John Hutton: No separate National Audit Office (NAO) report is being undertaken on the Paddington Basin hospital project. The NAO is involved in undertaking a joint review of this scheme together with Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department. Its report will be completed soon and will inform the next stage in taking forward this project.

Parkinson's Disease

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost of the pharmaceutical management of Parkinson's disease in England.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Information is available on the cost of prescription drugs used to treat Parkinson's and related disorders that are dispensed in the community in England. We do not hold data centrally on the overall pharmaceutical cost of Parkinson's Disease (data on drugs dispensed in hospitals/clinics or private prescriptions).
	The British National Formulary, section 4.9, identifies a group of drugs that are used for Parkinson's and related disorders. In 2002, 2.8 million items of drugs used in Parkinson's and related disorders were dispensed in the community in England. They had a net ingredient cost of £69.6 million. However, these drugs are not necessarily given only to people with Parkinson's and people with Parkinson's will receive drugs other than this group of drugs.
	The data have been obtained from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system from the Prescription Pricing Authority which covers all prescription items dispensed in the community in England.

Patient Education

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of NHS organisations to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations on patient education.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence published a technology appraisal on patient education models in diabetes in May 2003. It recommended that structured patient education is made available to all people with diabetes at the time of initial diagnosis and then as required on an ongoing basis, based on a formal, regular assessment of need. The National Health Service locally is usually required to make funds available to support NICE appraisal guidance within three months of publication. In the case of this guidance, the Secretary of State issued a direction to waive this requirement, as NICE advised that successful implementation of structured educational programmes would depend on the availability of an appropriately trained workforce. Primary care trusts, in working towards the Planning and Priorities Framework target of having practice based registers and systematic treatment for people with diabetes by 2006, should consider the introduction of structured education as an important element of a systematic treatment regime.

Personal Care Charges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1111W, on personal care charges, if he will estimate the change in the cost of free personal care following the announced change in his Department's policy on the assessment of patients for fully funded continuing care costs.

Stephen Ladyman: The cost of free personal care remains within the range of estimates previously made by the Department. The Department's policy on continuing care has not changed. Assessment procedures have been strengthened to ensure people receive services on the basis of their assessed need.

Pharmaceutical Packaging

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many complaints the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received in the past 12 months about changes by pharmaceutical distributors to manufacturers' packaging and related materials;
	(2)  whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received representations about the health risks posed by changes to the packaging of pharmaceutical products during distribution;
	(3)  if he will introduce tighter guidelines on the right to change or modify the packaging of pharmaceutical products during the distribution process.

Rosie Winterton: A pharmaceutical distributor in the United Kingdom is required to hold a wholesale dealer's licence (WL) issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). A WL does not authorise distributors to make changes to the manufacturers' packaging and related materials of licensed medicinal products; these activities require a separate assembly licence, also issued by the MHRA. A number of wholesale dealers hold assembly licences for the purpose of re-packaging licensed parallel imported medicines and this reply relates to this group of products.
	The repackaging of licensed medicinal products, such as parallel imports, is controlled by the specification registered in the parallel import licence and may only be carried out by assembly sites licensed and inspected by the MHRA.
	Parallel importers are not permitted to change the primary packaging of the product—that is the immediate packaging in contact with the product (for instance the blister packaging). The importer is however required to overlabel the immediate packaging in accordance with the European Union labelling regulations. This operation can be carried out by the importer if the company holds an assembly licence, issued by MHRA after inspecting the site.
	Any repackaging and relabelling proposed by a parallel importer is considered by MHRA before a licence is issued. The labelling of all products must meet the Medicines Labelling Regulations as laid down in Title V of Directive 2001/83/EC and each product pack must contain a patient information leaflet in English. Guidelines on the labelling and packaging of medicinal products are also relevant to parallel imports.
	In the past 12 months MHRA has received 107 letters or reports relating to medicinal products that have been repackaged and placed on the market in the United Kingdom as licensed parallel imports. These include 18 reports received by the MHRA Defective Medicines Report Centre concerning quality defects in the labelling or leaflets of re-packaged parallel imports, (which represents 6 per cent. of quality defects reported on all products).
	A further 66 of the letters received, either directly or via ministerial offices, concern aspects of the labelling, packaging or leaflet of the imported products, of which 14 were from patients, patient carers and health professionals. The remaining 52 were from the UK Marketing Authorisation holders and 47 related to updating of patient information leaflets.

Radiographer Vacancies

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for radiographers in the NHS in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough.

John Hutton: Information on qualified diagnostic and qualified therapeutic radiography staff vacancies in national health service trusts by strategic health authority and primary care trust in London has been placed in the Library.

Seroxat

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England are being prescribed Seroxat in (a) under 20 mg doses, (b) 20 mg doses and (c) over 20 mg doses.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not available on the number of children who are prescribed Paroxetine Hydrochloride (Seroxat).
	However, estimates of the number of prescription items of Paroxetine Hydrochloride that were dispensed in the community in England to children are available. These estimates show that in 2002 (the latest year for which figures are available) around 43,000 prescription items of Paroxetine Hydrochloride were dispensed in the community to children. This accounts for about one per cent. of all prescription items of Paroxetine Hydrochloride that were dispensed in the community.
	The estimate is derived from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system which covers all prescription items dispensed in the community in England. It does not include items dispensed in hospitals/clinics or private prescriptions. The estimate includes totals of prescription items for the chemical entity Paroxetine rather than Seroxat on its own, thus ensuring that any items dispensed generically are also included in the figures.
	As with all prescription items, information on the dosage is not available.

Seroxat

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are prescribed Seroxat in England; and what the number was in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format. The number of prescription items of paroxetine (seroxat) dispensed in the community in England in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		Number of prescription items (millions) of Paroxetine (Seroxat) dispensed in the community in England, from 1998
		
			 Year Number of prescription items (millions) 
		
		
			 1998 2.7 
			 1999 3.1 
			 2000 3.5 
			 2001 3.8 
			 2002 3.7 
			 2003(22) 2.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	The data is from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system which covers ail prescription items dispensed in the community in England. It does not include items dispensed in hospitals/clinics or private prescriptions.
	Paroxetine (Seroxat) is a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor and is defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 4.3.3.
	This data includes all items for the chemical entity Paroxetine; this includes the brand Seroxat and any generic prescriptions.
	Data for 2003 is January to September only.

Seroxat

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners prescribe Seroxat in doses larger than 20 mg.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format.
	In 2002, 80 per cent. of all paroxetine (Seroxat) prescription items that were dispensed in the community in England were for the 20 mg tablet and 18 per cent. were for the 30 mg tablet. However, it is not possible to link this data back to individuals or general practitioners, so we do not know what doses individuals have been prescribed. Therefore, it is not possible to infer the percentage of practitioners prescribing paroxetine in doses larger than 20 mg from this information.

Speech and Language Therapists

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average time is that a person has had to wait to be registered as a speech and language therapist in the last five years;
	(2)  how many applications to register speech and language therapists are waiting to be processed by the Health Professions Council;
	(3)  what plans he has to speed up the process of registering speech and language therapists.

John Hutton: The Health Professions Council is an independent statutory regulatory body and this information is available directly from that organisation.

Risperidone

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from Johnson and Johnson on the risk of stroke in atypical antipsychotics used on patients with dementia.

Stephen Ladyman: The marketing authorisation holder for risperidone, Janssen Cilag UK Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the United States company Johnson and Johnson. Aside from the data and interpretation received from Janssen Cilag and their corresponding applications to vary the UK Marketing Authorisations in respect of the risk of stroke associated with use of risperidone in patients with dementia, no representations have been received from the company.

Student Midwives

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the total cost and (b) the cost per individual to his Department was of the training of student midwives in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The total cost and cost per individual of training student midwives for each year since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Total cost(£ million) Cost per individual (£) bursary, salary and tuition 
		
		
			 1997–98 42.6 11,988 
			 1998–99 34.6 10,573 
			 1999–2000 45.6 13,169 
			 2000–01 51.4 13,959 
			 2001–02 58.7 14,461 
			 2002–03 59.0 14,132 
			 2003–04 63.3 13,323 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 1997–98 and 2003–04 are forecasts (actual outturn was only collected from 1999 onwards).
	2. Data in the above time series are not strictly comparable due to changes in the way data were collected,
	3. Average bursary costs for nurses and midwives added to tuition costs from 2000–01 onwards.

Staffing (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) midwives, (c) nursing assistants and (d) professionals ancillary to medicine were employed in the area of each primary care trust in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in (A) 1997 and (B) the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The information available has been placed in the Library.

Substance Misuse

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total NHS budget allocated to substance misuse treatment programmes for (a) drugs and (b) alcohol is in 2003–04.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The pooled drug treatment budget totalled £243.6 million in 2003–04, which allowed for an average increase of 24 per cent., to primary care trusts in their allocation from this budget. It is also estimated that £200 million of mainstream national health service expenditure will be spent on drug treatment in 2003–04.
	All funding for alcohol treatment services is drawn from the mainstream budgets of the NHS and local authorities. The amounts spent on treatment services from these budgets was substantial, although the method of funding means that it is not possible to give figures on expenditure.

Training Costs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collects on the percentage of annual staffing costs spent on training in the NHS.

John Hutton: In 2002–03, the latest year for which actual outturn figures are available, the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget accounted for 11 per cent. of the national health service annual staffing costs. The MPET training budget excludes funds spent by NHS trusts and primary care trusts on training existing staff from within their own budgets because this information is not held centrally.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new cases of TB were recorded in each year since 2000.

Melanie Johnson: The total number of tuberculosis cases reported in England and Wales since 2000 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of cases 
		
		
			 2000 6,271 
			 2001 6,597 
			 2002 6,907 
		
	
	Note
	(22) Provisional figure.
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency.

Waiting Lists/Times

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are awaiting (a) in-patient admission and (b) initial out-patient assessment in Greater London; and what the figures were in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The latest available figures for in-patient elective admissions for London are shown in the following tables. Information is only collected for first outpatient attendances for those patients waiting over 13 weeks.
	
		In-patient elective admission list for Greater London.
		
			  Quarter Total waiting list 
		
		
			 1998–99 1 215,588 
			 1998–99 2 201,181 
			 1998–99 3 187,032 
			 1998–99 4 167,783 
			 1999–2000 1 169,894 
			 1999–2000 2 167,338 
			 1999–2000 3 171,301 
			 1999–2000 4 162,303 
			 2000–01 1 163,276 
			 2000–01 2 158,109 
			 2000–01 3 158,022 
			 2000–01 4 156,353 
			 2001–02 1 160,591 
			 2001–02 2 159,094 
			 2001–02 3 159,106 
			 2001–02 4 160,458 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures are for London Regional Office.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07
	
		In-patient elective admission list for Greater London.
		
			 SHA Code 2002–03 Q1 2002–03  Q2 2002–03  Q3 2002–03  Q4 2003–04  Q1 2003–04  Q2 2003–04 Q3 
		
		
			  
			  
			 North West London 31,252 32,355 32,940 30,509 30,851 28,977 29,469 
			 North Central London 35,696 35,767 35,600 32,480 32,670 32,040 32,742 
			 North East London 35,559 34,994 34,290 31,482 31,031 29,615 28,716 
			 South East London 34,711 34,261 34,160 33,002 33,034 30,576 29,297 
			 South East London 26,917 26,191 26,608 25,762 24,508 23,386 23,194 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07

Waiting Lists/Times

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough were awaiting physiotherapy assessment in each six-month interval in the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Training (EU Accession States)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes his Department runs to help midwives from the EU accession states to adapt to working in the UK after 1 April.

John Hutton: This is a matter for employers. We would expect them to provide appropriate induction programmes for all new recruits, whatever their country of origin.

Training (EU Accession States)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls there are on (a) doctors and (b) nurses who began their training in an EU accession country before 1 May who wish to work in such professions in the UK after 1 May.

John Hutton: The recognition of their qualifications, where these do not meet specified minimum training requirements, will be subject to proof of recent and substantial practice experience.